THE  YOUNG  M1SSOURIANS  SCRI£ 


WITH  LYON  IN 
MISSOURI 


BYRON  A,  DUNN 


"Oh!  you  will  save  me,  won't  you?" 


\Page  2  j 


THE    YOUNG    MISSOURIANS    SERIES 

WITH 
LYON  IN  MISSOURI 


BY 

BYRON  A.  DUNN 

AUTHOR  OF  "GENERAL  NELSON'S  SCOUT,"  ETC. 


WITH   EIGHT  ILLUSTRATIONS 

BY  H.  s.  DELAY 


CHICAGO 

A.  C.  McCLURG  &  CO. 
1910 


COPYRIGHT 
A.  C.  McCLURG  &  Co. 

IQIO 

Published  September  24, 1910 
All  Rights  Reserved. 


R.  R.  DONNELLEY  &  SONS  COMPANY 
CHICAGO 


0)92.3 


LYON 

True  to  his  convictions;  true  to  his  flag;  true 
to  the  Union  men  of  Missouri  who  confided  in 
and  followed  him;  true  to  himself,  and  true  to 
duty,  he  went  out  to  battle  against  a  force  twice 
as  great  as  his  own,  with  a  calmness  that  was  as 
pathetic  as  his  courage  was  sublime. 

—  COLONEL  THOMAS  L.  SNEAD. 


M6984.0; 


PREFACE 

IT  is  some  years  since  the  author  gave  to  the 
public   the  "Young  Kentuckians   Series"  of 

tales  of  the  Civil  War ;  and  this  volume  he  now 
launches  upon  the  sea  of  literature,  hoping  that  it 
may  receive  as  gracious  a  reception  from  the 
youths  of  the  country  as  did  "General  Nelson's 
Scout." 

As  that  book  dealt  with  the  struggle  to  hold 
Kentucky  in  the  Union,  so  this  deals  with  the 
struggle  which  held  Missouri.  The  contest  for 
Missouri  was  ten-fold  more  intense  than  that  for 
Kentucky,  for  in  it  the  Federal  authorities  had  to 
meet  the  hostility  of  the  entire  State  Government, 
composed  of  brave  and  determined  men. 

For  the  historical  facts,  he  has  examined  the 
Official  Records,  and  many  books  and  articles 
which  bear  on  the  subject;  also  he  has  gleaned 
many  things  from  his  personal  acquaintance  with 
those  who  were  actors  in  the  scenes.  But  to  no 
book  has  he  been  so  much  indebted  as  to  Colonel 
Thomas  L.  Snead's  "The  Fight  for  Missouri." 
Colonel  Snead  is  a  singularly  frank  and  honest 
writer.  He  was  in  a  position  where  he  was  cog- 
nizant of  the  secret  movements  of  the  State 
Government  in  its  efforts  to  take  the  State  out  of 
the  Union,  and  these  he  has  revealed.  He  was  a 
brave,  gallant,  and  honest  foe. 


viii  PREFACE 

In  General  Nathaniel  Lyon  this  book  deals 
with  one  of  the  grandest  and  noblest  characters 
of  the  war,  a  character  too  little  known  to  the  ris- 
ing generation.  The  mighty  events  which  followed 
his  death  have  obscured,  and  in  a  measure  caused 
to  be  forgotten,  what  he  did.  No  man  in  so  short 
a  time  accomplished  so  much.  A  grateful  nation 
should  erect  a  monument  to  his  memory,  and  on 
that  monument  should  be  inscribed  the  tribute 
paid  to  him  by  one  who  fought  against  him,  and 
to  whom  this  book  is  dedicated. 

BYRON  A.  DUNN. 

WAUKEGAN,  ILL.,  August^ 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  PAGE 

I     THE  MOB i 

II  A  GOOD  SAMARITAN    .        .        .         .21 

III  A  SCRAP  OF  HISTORY.          ...  52 

IV  JOHN  BROWN 58 

V  WHAT  A  DAY  BROUGHT  FORTH  .        .  77 

VI  THE  DYING  REQUEST  ....  86 

VII  DOWN  THE  RIVER        ....  94 

VIII  MR.  ALFRED  MIDDLETON     .         .         .  108 

IX  FOUR  YEARS  AFTER    ....  130 

X  LAWRENCE  TAKES  A  STAND         .         .  142 

XI  THE  SWORD  OF  BUNKER  HILL    .         .  156 

XII  A  VALUABLE  ALLY       ....  173 

XIII  NATHANIEL  LYON         ....  188 

XIV  THE  FOURTH  OF  MARCH      .         .         .193 
XV  A  DREAM  OF  EMPIRE  ....  205 

XVI  THE  CALL  TO  ARMS     .         .        .         .212 

XVII     CAMP  JACKSON 227 

XVIII    THE  PANIC 242 

XIX  "THIS  MEANS  WAR"    ....  256 

XX  THE  ADVANCE  ON  JEFFERSON  CITY    .  270 

XXI       BOONVILLE 288 

XXII  THE  RACE  TO  SAVE  SIGEL          .        .  300 

XXIII  WILSON  CREEK 318 

XXIV  AFTER  THE  BATTLE     .         .         .         .  329 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


PAGE 
"Oh!  you  will  save  me,  won't  you?"     .         Frontispiece 

"Please  give  me  a  pistol,  too,  Judge  Lindsly"  .  48 
As  he  turned  there  was  a  report  of  another  pistol  .  84 
He  received  a  blow  between  the  eyes  that  sent  him 

sprawling        .......     138 

The  mob  broke  in  the  wildest  confusion  .  .  240 
Lawrence  saw  the  General  reel  in  his  saddle  .  .282 
Guilford  Craig  came  riding  into  camp,  bringing 

despatches     .......     302 

With  a  cry  he  sprang  forward  and  beat  down  the 

gun  with  his  sword  .         .         .         .          .326 


WITH    LYON    IN    MISSOURI 


CHAPTER  I 

THE  MOB 

I  HE  Platte  of  Missouri  is  a  small  river  which 
runs  through  the  northwest  portion  of  the 
State,  and  empties  into  the  Missouri  River 
a  little  above  Leavenworth,  Kansas.  Early  in  the 
month  of  October,  1856,  a  strange  scene  was  being 
enacted  on  the  banks  of  this  stream,  a  few  miles 
above  Platte  City.  An  infuriated  mob  had  gath- 
ered, and  in  the  midst  of  the  mob  was  a  shivering, 
terrified  man,  stripped  to  the  skin.  Near  by  a  kettle 
of  tar  was  being  warmed  over  a  small  fire ;  and  one 
of  the  mob  was  ripping  open  a  feather  pillow  with 
an  ugly-looking  knife. 

Near  the  stripped,  shivering  man  stood  a  little 
boy,  not  more  than  eleven  or  twelve  years  of  age, 
wringing  his  hands,  and  with  the  tears  streaming 
down  his  cheeks,  crying,  "Please  don't  kill  papa! 
Please  don't  kill  papa !" 

"  Shut  up,  you  imp  of  Satan,  or  we'uns  will  give 
you  the  same  dose  we'uns  are  goin'  to  give  your  il- 
lustrous  dad,"  growled  one  of  the  mob  as  he  caught 
the  boy  by  the  collar,  and  roughly  threw  him  back. 

i 


2  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

The  boy  fell  heavily  and  for  a  moment  lay 
stunned,  then  he  slowly  struggled  to  his  feet ;  but  he 
was  no  longer  crying.  Instead,  his  little  fists  were 
clinched,  and  his  eyes  were  blazing.  "Cowards! 
Cowards!"  he  cried.  "Oh,  that  I  were  a  man!" 

"An'  what  would  you  do,  if  you  was  a  man?" 
asked  his  tormentor,  chuckling. 

"Fight  you,  fight  the  whole  of  you!  You  are 
a  pack  of  cowards ! "  cried  the  boy  boldly. 

The  man  scowled,  started  toward  the  boy,  as  if 
to  crush  him,  but  changed  his  mind,  and  satisfied 
himself  by  saying :  "  Look  heah,  my  little  bantam, 
you  crow  loud,  but  it  would  be  bettah  for  you  and 
yo'  pa  both,  if  you  kept  a  civil  tongue  in  yo'  head. 
As  it  is,  I  have  a  mind  to  wring  yo'  neck,  you  aboli- 
tion brat." 

"  Never  mind  the  boy  now,  Jake,"  spoke  up  one 
of  the  mob  who  seemed  to  be  the  leader ;  "  the  tar  is 
warm  enough,  and  when  we  get  through  with  this 
nigger-stealing  abolition  preacher  his  own  son  won't 
know  him.  It  will  be  a  fine  lesson  for  the  boy,  not 
to  tread  in  the  footsteps  of  his  dad." 

"All  right,"  growled  the  other,  "but  the  brat 
has  got  to  keep  his  mouth  shut,  or  I  will  wring  his 
neck.  Jake  Dempsey  is  n't  used  to  bein'  called  a 
coward." 

The  victim,  who  was  a  minister  of  the  gospel,  now 
spoke  for  the  first  time.  "Lawrence,  you  can  do 
me  no  good,"  he  said  gently  to  his  son.  "  Do  not 


THE  MOB  3 

say  anything  to  bring  the  anger  of  these  men  against 
you/'  Then  looking  into  the  scowling  faces  of  the 
mob,  the  minister  continued:  "Surely  you  will 
spare  my  child.  He  has  done  no  harm.  You  are 
not  all  demons.  No  doubt  some  of  you  have  children 
of  your  own.  Think  of  them,  and  spare  my  boy. 
As  for  me,  I  am  in  the  hands  of  the  Lord.  As  my 
Master  bore  the  buffeting  of  the  mob  with  meek- 
ness, so  will  I  try  to  bear  whatever  indignities  you 
may  heap  upon  me." 

"  Ha !  ha !  "  laughed  the  leader,  "  that  is  a  good 
one.  A  North  Methodist  preacher  in  the  hands  of 
the  Lord !  You  had  better  pray  to  your  master,  the 
Devil,  if  you  want  help.  As  for  the  Lord,  we  are 
his  humble  instruments  to  show  you  this  is  not  a 
healthy  country  in  which  to  preach  abolition  doc- 
trine." Then  standing  before  the  preacher  and 
swinging  his  brush  before  his  eyes,  he  continued: 
"You  should  have  heard  Elder  Perkins  last  Sun- 
day. He  preached  a  beautiful  sermon,  showing 
how  according  to  the  Scriptures  it  was  right  to  hold 
the  nigger  in  bondage;  so  you  are  not  only  break- 
ing the  laws  of  Missouri,  but  you  are  going  against 
the  Bible.  What  have  you  got  to  say  for  your- 
self?" 

The  preacher's  lips  moved  as  if  in  prayer,  but  he 
did  not  answer. 

" Nothing  to  say,  eh?  Well,  this  court  will  at 
once  proceed  to  business.  I  am  going  to  give  you 


4  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

the  dandiest  dress  suit  you  ever  wore,  one  you 
will  be  proud  of." 

Thus  saying,  he  dipped  the  brush  into  the  warm 
tar,  and  amid  the  jeers  and  laughter  of  the  mob 
who  crowded  around,  he  brought  it  with  a  sweep, 
across  the  preacher's  breast. 

"  Black  abolitionist  he  is,  and  black  we  will  make 
him/'  he  exclaimed. 

For  a  moment  the  boy  stood  transfixed  with  hor- 
ror, then  before  the  man  had  time  to  apply  the  tar 
again,  with  a  cry  which  sounded  more  like  the 
angry  snarl  of  a  wild  beast  than  human,  he  sprang 
forward,  and  fastened  his  teeth  into  the  wrist  of 
the  leader;  and  he  had  to  be  shaken  off  like  a  dog 
before  he  would  let  go.  With  a  fearful  oath,  the 
leader  seized  the  boy,  and  walking  to  the  river 
threw  him  far  out  into  the  stream.  The  father 
gave  one  cry  of  agony,  then  breaking  from  his  cap- 
tors, he  sprang  forward  to  rescue  his  son.  The 
leader  caught  him  just  as  he  was  about  to  plunge 
into  the  river.  He  struggled  like  a  maniac,  and 
more  than  one  of  the  mob  bore  marks  of  his  blows, 
his  nails  and  teeth. 

His  struggles  had  called  attention  away  from 
Lawrence,  and  after  the  minister  had  been  thor- 
oughly subdued,  one  of  the  mob  went  to  look  after 
the  boy,  but  he  was  nowhere  to  be  seen. 

"Reckon  he  is  food  for  the  catfish,  all  right," 
coolly  remarked  the  fellow  as  he  walked  back. 


THE  MOB  5 

"  Oh!  my  poor  boy!  My  poor  boy!  "  wailed  the 
minister,  " would  God  I  had  died  for  you!" 

He  had  been  roughly  handled  in  his  struggles,  but 
he  did  not  seem  to  mind  his  bruises.  He  thought 
only  of  his  son,  now,  as  he  supposed,  lying  in  the 
slimy  bed  of  the  river.  The  leader  looked  at  his 
wrist  ruefully.  It  was  badly  torn,  and  blood  was 
dripping  from  his  hand. 

"Better  put  some  of  the  tar  on  it,  Bill,  it  will 
stop  the  bleeding,"  said  one  of  the  men.  "There 
will  be  enough  left  for  the  preacher." 

Ketcham,  for  that  was  the  leader's  name,  did  as 
was  suggested,  and  then  binding  his  handkerchief 
around  the  injured  member,  was  ready  to  proceed. 
"I  will  just  give  you  double  the  dose  that  I  intended, 
on  account  of  this  wrist,"  he  growled. 

He  then  proceeded  to  smear  the  minister  with  the 
tar  from  head  to  feet,  leaving  only  the  face  un- 
touched. "  I  would  cover  that,  too,"  he  remarked, 
"  but  it  would  shut  off  his  wind ;  and  I  want  him  to 
live,  so  he  can  see  what  a  beautiful  object  he  is ! " 

The  feathers  were  then  applied,  a  large  tuft  being 
placed  on  the  top  of  his  head.  As  the  mob  looked 
on  the  object  they  had  created,  they  danced  and 
yelled  with  delight.  The  Reverend  Arthur  Middle- 
ton  was  certainly  a  grotesque-looking  object. 

"Beautiful!  beautiful!"  exclaimed  Ketcham  as 
he  walked  around  and  surveyed  his  job.  "Boys, 
he  ought  to  have  his  picture  taken." 


6  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

Then  taking  off  his  hat,  he  said,  "This  glorious 
gathering  ought  not  to  break  up  without  a  suitable 
toast  in  honor  of  him  who  has  furnished  the  enter- 
tainment. Here  is  to  the  preacher !  May  his  dress 
become  the  fashion  for  every  one  who  follows  in  his 
footsteps ! " 

"  Hold  on !  We  must  drink  to  that  toast/'  cried 
one,  and  he  pulled  a  bottle  of  whiskey  out  of  his 
pocket.  The  toast  was  drunk  amid  the  greatest 
enthusiasm. 

The  sun  was  now  low  in  the  west,  and  the  ques- 
tion arose  what  disposition  they  should  make  of  their 
victim.  "  Let  's  hang  him,  now,  as  a  scarecrow," 
said  one,  as  he  nursed  a  swollen  nose,  that  Mr.  Mid- 
dleton  had  given  him  in  his  struggles. 

"  No,"  said  another,  "  that  would  be  too  merciful. 
Let  's  leave  him  to  wander  where  he  will ;  the  poor 
devil  will  soon  die  of  hunger  and  exposure,  for  even 
the  niggers  will  take  him  for  the  Evil  One,  and  flee 
from  him," 

"Why  not  send  him  to  look  after  his  precious 
son?"  said  another. 

The  idea  instantly  found  favor.  "  Just  the  thing ! 
just  the  thing ! "  they  all  cried. 

"  Say,  he  will  be  the  strangest-looking  animal  ever 
seen  navigating  the  Platte,"  remarked  Ketcham. 

A  log  was  procured,  as  a  means  of  conveyance. 
"  Better  tie  him  on,  or  the  poor  cuss  will  roll  off  and 


THE  MOB  7 

drown/'  said  one  more  tender-hearted  than  the 
others. 

"  No  danger ;  he  would  swim  like  a  duck,  his  feath- 
ers would  hold  him  up,"  remarked  Ketcham,  with  a 
grin.  "  But  tie  him  on,  and  the  next  we  hear  of  him, 
he  will  be  navigating  the  Big  Muddy." 

"  Let  me  tie  him  on,"  said  he  of  the  swollen  nose, 
"  I  have  a  grudge  agin'  him." 

"  All  right,  go  ahead,"  said  Ketcham. 

Not  only  were  Mr.  Middleton's  ankles  bound  be- 
neath the  log,  but  his  hands  were  tied  behind  him. 

"That  is  cruel,"  remarked  one.  "He  does  n't 
stand  a  ghost  of  a  show  now." 

"  What  's  the  use  of  sending  him  off  with  his 
hands  untied,"  snapped  Swollen  Nose,  "  he  would 
get  himself  free  in  no  time."  And  he  was  allowed 
to  have  his  way. 

During  the  preparations,  Mr.  Middleton  made  no 
protest.  In  fact,  he  seemed  in  a  daze,  and  not  to 
realize  what  was  being  done  to  him.  At  last  the  job 
was  done  to  the  satisfaction  of  all,  and  the  log  was 
pushed  out  into  the  stream.  The  current  caught  it, 
and  the  mob  watched  it  as  it  floated  away  with  its 
human  freight,  until  it  was  hid  from  view  by  a  bend 
in  the  river. 

"Bon  voyage,"  they  shouted,  and  with  jest  and 
banter  they  mounted  their  horses  and  rode  swiftly 
away,  and  the  shadows  of  night  swallowed  them  up. 


8  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

As  for  Mr.  Middleton,  the  laving  of  his  limbs  by 
the  stream  somewhat  revived  him,  but  he  felt  faint 
and  dizzy,  and  there  seemed  to  be  something  grip- 
ping at  his  heart.  He  believed  that  death  was  near, 
but  to  him  death  had  no  terrors.  He  only  prayed 
that  it  might  come  surely  and  swiftly.  He  grew 
fainter  and  weaker.  Strange  visions  danced  before 
his  eyes.  A  lethargy  stole  over  him,  and  he  slowly 
sank  forward  until  his  head  rested  on  the  log,  and 
now  and  then  the  water  would  lap  his  parched  lips. 
He  felt  no  pain,  now.  To  him,  it  seemed  he  was 
floating  down  —  down  into  eternity,  and  he  mur- 
mured, "  Father,  receive  my  spirit ! " 

After  a  time  the  log  was  caught  in  an  eddy,  and 
drifted  close  to  the  bank,  resting  there,  but  he  did 
not  notice  the  fact.  It  was  so  delicious  to  die  —  to 
be  borne  along  on  unseen  wings.  The  lapping  of 
the  water,  the  whispering  of  the  breeze  were  to  his 
ears  as  the  far-off  music  of  the  heavenly  host. 

"Father!" 

It  was  a  whisper  as  soft  as  a  summer  zephyr.  He 
did  not  notice  it. 

"Father!" 

The  whisper  was  louder,  and  it  reached  his  dull 
ears.  Was  he  already  dead,  and  was  the  spirit  of 
his  son  calling  to  him? 

"Father,  oh,  father!" 

The  call  was  now  in  a  low  voice.  It  thrilled  him 
through  and  through ;  it  aroused  his  dormant  senses. 


THE  MOB  9 

He  opened  his  eyes ;  darkness  was  around,  but  surely 
he  had  heard  the  voice  of  his  son. 

"Father,  oh,  father,  do  you  not  hear  me?  Can 
you  not  answer  me  ?  " 

The  agonized  voice  fully  aroused  him.  With  a 
great  effort  he  sat  up.  The  thick  darkness  con- 
cealed everything.  But  surely  he  had  heard  a  voice 
—  a  voice  so  like  his  son's,  that  he  asked  faintly, 
"Who  calls?" 

"I  —  Lawrence.  I  am  here  to  help  you, 
father!" 

"  Then  you  were  not  drowned  —  you  escaped  ?  I 
am  not  dead,  neither  is  this  a  dream,  is  it?  "  asked 
the  bewildered  man. 

"  No,  father,  you  are  neither  dead  nor  dreaming. 
I  am  here,  all  right." 

"  My  son  alive !  Father  in  heaven,  I  thank  thee," 
exclaimed  Mr.  Middleton  fervently. 

"  Now,  father,"  said  Lawrence  cheerfully,  "  keep 
up  good  courage!  I  will  soon  have  you  free." 

"  You  will  find  it  no  easy  task,"  replied  Mr.  Mid- 
dleton, "  I  am  bound  hands  and  feet." 

"  I  know  it,  father,  I  saw  it  all ;  but  I  will  find  a 
way  to  free  you,"  answered  the  brave  boy. 

Lawrence  carefully  worked  his  way  down  to  the 
edge  of  the  river.  The  bank  was  steep,  and  it  was 
very  dark,  so  he  had  to  feel  his  way  carefully,  cling- 
ing to  the  bushes  for  support.  He  found  that  one 
end  of  the  log  on  which  his  father  was  bound  rested 


10  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

on  the  bank,  but  the  other  end  was  out  in  the  stream. 
He  pondered  for  a  while,  what  to  do,  then  with  his 
pocket-knife,  which  fortunately  had  not  been  taken 
from  him,  he  cut  a  stout  branch  of  an  overhanging 
bush,  leaving  a  prong  at  the  larger  end.  This  he 
managed  to  hook  over  the  log  behind  his  father.  It 
was  now  an  easy  matter  to  swing  the  log  around, 
until  its  whole  length  rested  against  the  bank. 
Clinging  to  the  branches  of  the  bush,  he  reached  out 
and  cut  the  cords  which  bound  his  father's  wrists. 

"Now,  father/'  he  said,  "  hold  onto  the  bush, 
and  I  will  try  to  find  the  cords  which  bind  your 
ankles." 

But  so  cold  and  bloodless  were  Mr.  Middleton's 
hands,  that  it  was  some  time  before  he  could  get  any 
feeling  or  strength  in  them.  At  last  he  said,  "I 
think  I  can  hold  on  now,  Lawrence." 

To  cut  the  cords  which  bound  his  father's  limbs, 
Lawrence  found  no  easy  task.  He  had  to  reach  far 
down  into  the  water,  and  once  he  slipped  into  the 
river,  nearly  losing  his  precious  knife.  But  at  last 
the  cords  were  cut,  and  Mr.  Middleton  was  free. 

"  Now,  father,  try  to  drag  yourself  upon  the  bank, 
by  the  branch  of  which  you  have  hold,"  said  Law- 
rence. 

By  exerting  all  his  strength,  and  with  the  aid  of 
the  boy,  Mr.  Middleton  managed  to  drag  himself 
out  of  the  water,  and  to  crawl  slowly  up  the  bank. 

When  he  reached  the  top,  he  lay  for  some  time, 


THE  MOB  11 

utterly  exhausted.  When  he  could  speak,  he  said: 
"  How  did  it  come  you  were  not  drowned,  when 
they  threw  you  into  the  river?  I  did  not  know  you 
could  swim." 

"I  can  swim  only  a  little/'  Lawrence  answered, 
"but  I  managed  to  keep  myself  afloat;  the  current 
bore  me  swiftly  down,  and  fortunately  carried  me 
near  enough  to  the  opposite  bank,  so  I  could  grasp 
the  overhanging  branch  of  a  tree.  To  draw  myself 
up  among  the  bushes  and  conceal  myself  was  the 
work  of  a  moment.  But  the  mob  did  not  seem  to 
notice  me,  I  think  they  were  busy  with  you." 

"  Yes,"  replied  Mr.  Middleton,  "  I  thought  you 
would  drown,  and  I  broke  from  the  mob,  thinking  to 
save  you;  but  I  was  caught,  and  borne  struggling 
back.  I  think  I  was  insane  for  the  moment,  over  the 
thought  that  you  were  drowning,  and  I  fought  like 
a  madman;  but  what  could  I  do  against  so  many? 
But  go  on,  my  boy,  what  next?" 

"  I  was  completely  hidden  where  I  was,"  continued 
Lawrence,  "  and  could  watch  every  movement  of  the 
mob.  And,  oh,  father!  when  I  saw  them  smearing 
you  with  the  tar,  I  could  n't  look.  I  buried  my  face 
in  the  leaves.  I  groaned,  I  cried,  and,  father," 
this  faintly,  "  I  swore ;  I  cursed  them.  There  was 
murder  in  my  heart.  I  beat  the  ground  with  my 
hands;  I  could  have  torn  every  one  of  that  mob 
limb  from  limb,  if  I  had  had  the  power." 

"  My  son,  my  son,  'Vengeance  is  mine/  saith  the 


12  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

Lord;  you  should  curse  no  one/'  answered  his 
father. 

"Why  did  n't  the  Lord  strike  them  dead,  then?" 
exclaimed  Lawrence  bitterly.  "  Why  does  not  the 
Lord  protect  those  who  believe  in  Him?  To  my 
mind,  He  is  a  poor  sort  of  a  Lord  to  let  those  suffer 
who  love  Him." 

The  father  groaned.  "  Lawrence,  Lawrence,"  he 
wailed,  "don't  talk  so!  Don't  add  to  my  suffer- 
ing. But  go  on,  tell  me  the  rest." 

"  There  is  not  much  more  to  tell.  The  mob  grew 
strangely  still,  and  when  I  looked  again  they  were 
tying  you  to  the  log;  and  when  they  set  you  adrift, 
a  great  hope  sprang  up  in  my  heart.  I  would  fol- 
low you  and  free  you.  At  first  I  followed  cau- 
tiously, but  then  it  grew  dark,  and  I  had  no  fear  of 
being  seen.  My  only  fear  was  that  I  might  lose  you 
in  the  darkness,  for  in  many  places  the  trees  and 
bushes  shut  out  all  view  of  the  river.  At  last,  as  the 
darkness  thickened,  all  I  could  see  was  a  white  spot 
on  the  water."  And  Lawrence  shuddered  as  he  re- 
membered what  caused  that  white  spot. 

Controlling  himself,  he  resumed.  "  After  a  time 
the  spot  'remained  stationary,  and  I  knew  the  log  had 
caught;  and  you  know  the  rest.  Now  I  have  you, 
father,  all  will  be  well.  We  will  reach  Kansas  yet." 

The  joy  of  finding  that  his  son  was  alive,  and  his 
own  rescue  from  his  perilous  condition,  had  given 
Mr.  Middleton  unnatural  strength,  but  now  the  reac- 


THE  MOB  13 

tion  came.  To  Lawrence's  hopeful  words,  he  could 
only  reply  with  a  groan.  Here  he  was  naked,  shiv- 
ering with  cold,  and  an  object  of  horror  to  look  upon. 
He  shuddered  as  he* touched  himself;  the  chill  of  the 
night  was  striking  to  his  very  bones ;  and  where  could 
he  go  ?  No  where  in  that  inhospitable  region.  His 
pitiable  condition  overcame  him,  and  for  the  first 
time  he  wept  bitterly.  Better  had  he  been  murdered 
outright. 

His  father's  sobs  nearly  broke  Lawrence's  heart 
"Don't,  father,  don't !  "  he  pleaded.  "  Surely  there 
is  some  way  out  of  this." 

"Alas!  my  boy,"  said  Mr.  Middleton  in  a  quiver- 
ing voice,  "  for  me  there  is  no  help,  but  there  may  be 
for  you.  Surely  they  are  not  all  savages  here. 
There  must  be  some  kind  hearts  who  will  not  drive 
a  defenceless  child  from  their  door.  Leave  me,  my 
son,  and  seek  shelter;  but,  first,  kiss  me,  and  let  me 
bless  you  before  you  go." 

"What!  go  away  and  leave  you?"  asked  Law- 
rence in  astonishment. 

"  Yes,  my  son,  it  is  the  only  way.  It  is  better  that 
you  should  live  than  that  both  should  perish.  Look 
at  my  condition,  —  naked,  covered  with  horrible 
stuff,  no  money  —  " 

"But,  father,  you  forget,"  broke  in  Lawrence. 
"  Don't  you  remember  that  but  yesterday  you  sewed 
two  hundred  dollars  in  my  clothes,  saying  that  it 
would  be  safer  with  me  than  with  you  ?  " 


14  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

"  So  I  did,  I  remember  now,  but  little  good  it  will 
do  us  here.  My  son,  you  must  leave  me.  If,  per- 
'  chance,  you  find  a  good  Samaritan,  you  can  return 
for  me.  If  not,  let  me  perish.  It  will  sweeten  the 
thought  of  death,  to  know  that  you  live.  Go,  my 
son,  go  at  once." 

"  I  will  never  leave  you,"  replied  the  boy  firmly. 
"  If  die  you  must,  I  will  die  with  you.  But,  father, 
we  need  not  die.  Have  courage!  All  will  yet  be 
well." 

Mr.  Middleton  could  only  groan  in  reply. 

"Come,  father,"  continued  the  boy,  "we  cannot 
stay  here,  we  must  be  going." 

"Go?  Where  can  we  go?"  replied  Mr.  Middle- 
ton,  bitterly. 

He  had  entirely  given  up  hope,  and  the  cold  was 
striking  to  his  very  bones.  Lawrence  also  was  shiv- 
ering with  the  cold.  His  sodden  garments  clung  to 
him  like  so  much  ice,  but  the  brave  boy  made  no 
complaint.  Not  for  the  world  would  he  let  his 
father  know  he  was  suffering.  His  only  words  were 
of  cheer  and  comfort.  Yielding  to  his  entreaties, 
Mr.  Middleton  struggled  to  his  feet.  For  the  time 
being  the  child  was  the  man ;  the  man  was  the  child, 
to  obey.  The  bank  of  the  river  on  that  side  was 
thickly  wooded,  and  the  darkness  was  intense.  They 
could  advance  only  by  carefully  feeling  their  way, 
and  their  progress  was  necessarily  slow.  The  wind 
had  arisen,  and  was  sweeping  through  the  tree-tops 

- 


THE  MOB  15 

singing  a  lamentation  and  shaking  the  dying  leaves 
down  upon  them  in  showers.  They  had  not  gone  far 
before  Mr.  Middleton's  feet  were  torn  and  bleeding, 
and  his  body  had  received  many  a  painful  wound. 
Where  the  flesh  was  torn  the  smarting  of  the  tar  was 
intolerable.  Lawrence  shielded  him  as  much  as  pos- 
sible by  going  in  front,  but  his  steps  grew  more  and 
more  faltering.  At  last  he  sat  down  on  a  log,  and 
gave  up  in  despair. 

"  This  is  the  end/'  he  exclaimed  in  a  voice  chok- 
ing with  emotion.  "  My  son,  my  dear  son,  you  must 
go  on  and  leave  me.  Go!  Go!  I  command  you." 

Lawrence  put  his  arms  around  his  father's  neck 
caressingly.  "  Father,  don't  command  me/'  he 
pleaded  tearfully.  "Don't  make  me  disobey  you. 
Could  I  ever  live  and  be  happy,  if  I  should  leave  you 
here  to  die?" 

"  My  boy,  my  precious  brave  boy,  for  your  sake  I 
will  make  one  more  effort,"  and  with  Lawrence's  as- 
sistance, Mr.  Middleton  struggled  to  his  feet.  Every 
step  was  agony,  he  tottered  from  weakness,  but  he 
struggled  on. 

Suddenly,  Lawrence  cried,  "  Father,  it  shows  light 
through  the  trees;  we  are  getting  out  of  the  woods." 
And  so  it  proved. 

They  soon  came  to  a  road,  and  in  the  distance  a 
light  twinkled. 

"See,  father,  see!"  cried  the  boy  joyously,  "a 
light;  it  must  come  from  a  house." 


16  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

Before  Mr.  Middleton  could  answer,  he  stepped 
on  a  sharp  stone,  which  pierced  his  foot,  and  he  sank 
down  in  a  dead  faint. 

"  Father !  Father ! "  cried  Lawrence  in  alarm ;  but 
there  was  no  answer. 

A  great  terror  come  over  him.  Was  his  father 
dead?  He  knelt  by  his  side,  crying,  begging  him  to 
speak  to  him,  but  his  cries  fell  on  deaf  ears.  He  put 
his  ear  to  his  father's  heart.  No,  he  was  not  dead,  for 
the  heart  was  beating  faintly.  But  one  thought 
filled  the  mind  of  the  boy.  He  must  get  help;  his 
father  must  not  die.  Springing  to  his  feet,  he  ran 
with  all  his  strength  toward  the  light.  Would  he 
never  reach  it?  It  seemed  as  far  off  as  ever,  and 
his  breath  was  coming  in  quick  gasps.  At  length  he 
drew  near,  and  to  his  joy,  he  saw  that  the  light  was 
streaming  through  the  window  of  a  large  house. 
Just  before  he  reached  the  door,  he  heard  the  swift 
beating  of  a  horse's  hoofs  coming  from  the  opposite 
direction.  A  horseman  drew  rein  before  the  house, 
and  without  dismounting,  called  for  the  proprietor  to 
come  out.  In  answer  to  the  summons,  a  white- 
haired,  distinguished-looking  gentleman  came  to  the 
door.  The  man  on  horseback  took  off  his  hat,  and 
bowing  said,  "  Good-evening,  Judge,  I  hope  I  see 
you  well." 

The  gentleman  addressed  as  Judge,  came  out  on 
the  veranda  and  said,  "Why,  is  that  you,  Dryden? 


THE  MOB  17 

It  is  so  dark  I  did  not  know  you.  Anything  special  ? 
Won't  you  dismount  and  come  in?" 

"  Thank  you,  Judge,  but  I  must  be  getting  home. 
Just  thought  I  would  stop  and  tell  you  the  news. 
The  boys  have  been  having  a  heap  of  fun  this 
evening." 

"  Why,  how  is  that  ?  "  asked  the  Judge. 

"Oh!  they  caught  a  North  Methodist  preacher, 
on  his  way  to  Kansas,  and  that  he  might  enter  the 
Territory  properly  clothed,  they  gave  him  a  fine  coat 
of  tar  and  feathers." 

When  Lawrence  heard  these  words,  his  heart 
sank.  He  had  come  to  the  house  of  his  enemies. 
He  stopped,  and  cowered  beneath  a  tree.  He  would 
hear  more  of  what  the  man  had  to  say. 

"Were  you  in  the  scrape,  Dryden?"  Lawrence 
thought  the  Judge's  voice  was  rather  cold  and  hard, 
as  he  asked  the  question. 

"I  was  there,"  answered  Dryden,  "but  merely 
looked  on,  and  enjoyed  the  fun.  Bill  Ketcham 
bossed  the  job." 

The  Judge  shook  his  head.  "  I  hardly  like  it,  Dry- 
den," he  said.  "  The  Northern  papers  get  hold  of 
these  things,  and  make  the  most  of  them.  Was  the 
preacher  alone?" 

"  No,  he  had  a  little  boy  with  him." 

"What  became  of  the  boy?" 

Dryden    hesitated    before    he    answered,    then 


18  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

he  said :  "  That  is  the  part  I  don't  like,  and  I  will 
make  a  clean  breast  of  it.  I  know  you  won't  like  it, 
but  it  can't  be  helped  now.  You  see  when  Ketcham 
went  to  apply  the  tar  to  his  father,  the  little  fellow 
flew  at  him,  and  fastened  his  teeth  in  his  wrist  like  a 
dog.  It  was  a  bad  bite,  and  it  made  Ketcham  so 
mad,  he  picked  the  boy  up  and  threw  him  in  the 
river." 

"And  you  stood  there,  and  let  the  boy  drown?" 
The  Judge's  voice  took  on  a  metallic  ring. 

"  Not  so  bad  as  that,  Judge.  But  when  the  boy 
was  thrown  into  the  river,  the  preacher  made  a 
break  and  fought  like  a  madman.  It  took  some  time 
to  subdue  him,  and  when  the  boys  had  him  good  and 
fast  once  more,  they  went  to  look  for  the  boy,  but  he 
was  nowhere  to  be  seen.  I  really  don't  know 
whether  he  got  out  or  was  drowned." 

"And  the  preacher,  where  is  he  now?"  The 
Judge  seemed  to  want  to  know  all  about  it. 

"Judge,  when  the  boys  got  through  with  him, 
he  was  the  funniest  sight  I  ever  saw.  Some  of  the 
boys  wanted  to  finish  the  job  by  hanging  him,  but 
they  compromised  the  matter  by  tying  him  to  a  log, 
and  sending  him  adrift  down  the  river." 

"  Do  you  mean  to  say  that  you  sent  the  man  bound 
to  a  log,  perfectly  helpless,  adrift  ?  "  asked  the  Judge 
in  a  surprised  tone. 

"That  is  about  it,  Judge." 


THE  MOB  19 

"  Do  you  not  know  it  would  have  been  more  mer- 
ciful to  kill  him  outright?  " 

"  That  's  so,  Judge,  but  blast  the  nigger-stealing 
hypocrite,  I  don't  know  as  he  got  more  than  he 
deserved." 

"  It  's  bad  business,  Dryden,  and  I  am  sorry  you 
were  in  it.  I  am  not  surprised  at  Ketcham.  To  tell 
the  truth,  I  am  heartily  sick  of  this  border  warfare. 
It  cannot  keep  up  forever  without  embroiling  the 
whole  country.  Then  the  Union  of  States  will  be 
at  an  end,  and  war  will  come  in  earnest." 

"  Let  it  come !  Damn  the  Union,  anyway," 
growled  Dryden.  "  What  do  we  care  for  the 
money-grabbing  Yankees?  The  sooner  the  South 
breaks  away  from  the  Union,  the  better.  The  dirty 
mudsills  would  n't  dare  to  show  fight;  and  if  they 
did,  we  would  whip  them  to  a  finish  in  sixty  days." 

"  I  sometimes  think,"  said  the  Judge,  "  that  if  the 
South  were  allowed  to  withdraw  from  the  Union 
peacefully,  it  would  be  the  best  thing  that  could 
happen ;  but  if  war  comes,  you  will  find  no  sixty-day 
job.  However,  we  will  not  discuss  the  subject  now. 
I  am  sorry  you  did  not  let  the  preacher  go  in  peace. 
But  what  is  done  cannot  be  helped.  Good-night, 
Dryden."  And  the  Judge  turned  around  to  go  into 
the  house. 

"Good-night,  Judge,"  called  Dryden  as  he  rode 
away,  but  as  he  passed  Lawrence  the  boy  heard  him 


20  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

mutter,  "  The  Judge  don't  seem  well  pleased  over  the 
way  we  used  the  preacher.  He  is  always  talking 
about  '  the  majesty  of  the  law.'  Hang  the  law,  as 
far  as  abolition  preachers  are  concerned." 


CHAPTER  II 

A  GOOD  SAMARITAN 

"  A    BAD  business !     A  bad  business ! "  muttered 

A\    Judge  Lindsly,  for  that  was  the  gentleman's 

name,  as  Dryden  rode  away,  "  I  wonder  what 

has  become  of  that  preacher  and  that  little  boy.     I 

do  hope  he  was  not  drowned." 

He  was  soon  to  know  what  had  become  of  them, 
for  just  as  he  was  opening  the  door  to  enter  the 
house,  a  small  boy  rushed  up  the  steps,  and  falling 
at  his  feet,  cried : 

"Oh,  sir,  I  heard  what  you  said  to  that  dreadful 
man!  You  are  good,  I  know  you  are  good.  You 
will  help  father.  He  is  dying  —  dying  all  alone. 
Come  quick!" 

Lawrence  could  say  no  more,  for  he  was  sobbing 
as  if  his  heart  would  break. 

"  Bless  me !  bless  me !  what  now  ?  "  ejaculated  the 
surprised  Judge,  and  he  threw  open  the  door.  As 
the  light  streamed  out,  he  was  astonished  to  see  a 
small  boy,  with  wet  and  bedraggled  garments,  grov- 
elling at  his  feet. 

"Why!  why!  this  must  be  the  boy  Dryden  told 
about/'  exclaimed  the  Judge,  in  surprise.  "  Get  up, 
my  boy,  and  tell  me  about  it." 


£g  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

"My  father!  my  father!"  sobbed  Lawrence. 
"Oh!  sir,  won't  you  help  him?" 

The  Judge  reached  down,  and  kindly  raised  Law- 
rence to  his  feet.  "  Why,  my  boy,  you  are  dripping 
wet,  and  shivering  with  cold.  Come  into  the 
house." 

"Oh,  no,  no!     My  father,  sir!" 

"Where  is  your  father?  " 

"  Back  here  in  the  road.  He  is  dying  —  dying 
all  alone.  Come  quick ! " 

The  Judge  drew  Lawrence  into  the  house,  and 
with  a  few  questions  learned  from  him  the  main 
points  of  his  story. 

Mrs.  Lindsly,  a  stately,  white-haired  lady,  looked 
on  Lawrence  with  compassion.  "The  poor  boy," 
she  said.  "  What  are  you  going  to  do,  Judge?" 

"Do?  Do  what  I  can  to  help  those  in  need," 
answered  the  Judge.  "  But,  Caroline,  if  what  Dry- 
den  said  is  true,  it  will  not  do  to  have  the  man 
brought  in  here.  I  will  have  him  taken  to  one  of  the 
negro  cabins.  The  cabin  of  Susan  and  Uncle  Jo  will 
be  just  the  place." 

Then  turning  to  Lawrence,  the  Judge  said, 
"  My  poor  boy,  I  will  do  all  I  can.  Come  with  me." 
Taking  his  hat  and  cane,  the  Judge  passed  out  into 
the  night,  and  made  his  way  to  one  of  the  negro 
cabins,  where  he  tapped  lightly  at  the  door.  It  was 
opened  by  a  buxom  negro  woman,  one  who  had 
grown  gray  in  the  service  of  the  family. 


A  GOOD  SAMARITAN  23 

Seeing  Judge  Lindsly,  she  started  back  in  sur- 
prise, and  exclaimed,  "  De  good  Lawd !  Is  dat 
you,  Massa  Lindsly  ?  What 's  de  mattah  ?  Is  de 
missy  sick  ?  " 

"  No,  Susan,  but  a  poor  man  is  in  trouble.  Is  Jo 
in?" 

"  Dar  he  is,"  said  Susan,  pointing  to  an  aged  ne- 
gro who  sat  nodding  by  the  fire,  toasting  his  shins. 
"  Dat  good-for-nothin'  nigger  is  gettin'  lazier  ebery 
day.  Heah,  Jo,  Massa  Lindsly  wants  you." 

The  patriarchal-looking  negro  hurriedly  arose, 
and  stood  bowing,  and  pulling  a  lock  of  his  white 
woolly  hair. 

"  Susan,  I  have  work  for  you  and  Jo  both,"  said 
the  Judge.  "A  white  preacher  has  been  roughly 
used  by  some  of  the  boys  —  in  fact  tarred  and  feath- 
ered. This  little  boy  says  he  is  dying  out  here  in 
the  road.  I  am  going  to  have  him  brought  in  here." 

Susan  raised  her  hands  in  horror.  "Tar  and 
feather  a  preacher  ob  de  Gospel,"  she  screamed. 
"Oh,  Lawd!  what  de  world  comin'  to?" 

"He  is  a  North  Methodist  preacher,  Susan,  one 
of  those  zealous  fellows  who  are  making  all  the 
trouble  over  in  Kansas.  He  says  you  ought  to  be 
free." 

"  What !  I  and  Jo  po'  miserable  free  niggers  'stead 
of  belongin'  to  you,  Massa  Lindsly?"  exclaimed  Su- 
san indignantly.  "  Go  'long,  Massa,  don't  want  any- 
thing to  do  wid  him." 


24  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

"  But  you  must,  Susan.  You  and  Jo  have  a  kettle 
of  water  heated  by  the  time  we  get  back.  Now,  Jo, 
stir  yourself." 

"Yes,  yes,  Massa,"  answered  Jo,  as  he  shuffled 
away  to  do  his  bidding. 

During  this  colloquy,  Lawrence  stood  impatiently 
by.  "  Please,  hurry,"  he  kept  saying. 

"Who  dat  boy?"  asked  Susan,  now  noticing  him 
for  the  first  time. 

"He  is  the  son  of  the  preacher,"  answered  the 
Judge. 

"  He  all  wet.  He  looks  as  if  he  bin  in  de  rib- 
ber,"  said  Susan,  her  sympathy  aroused. 

"  He  has,  but  do  as  I  bid  you.  We  will  see  to  the 
boy  afterwards,"  said  the  Judge. 

The  Judge  now  went  and  aroused  two  more  of 
his  slaves,  Jake  and  George,  stalwart  fellows,  who 
were  told  to  get  a  lantern,  and  to  go  with  Law- 
rence, to  bring  in  a  man  that  they  would  find,  who 
had  fainted  by  the  roadside.  At  the  same  time  the 
Judge  despatched  another  slave  in  posthaste  for  a 
doctor.  It  was  an  excited  boy  who  guided  the  two 
slaves  to  where  his  father  lay. 

Mr.  Middleton  had  revived  from  his  fainting  spell 
while  Lawrence  was  gone,  and  had  crawled  to  one 
side  of  the  road.  He  had  called  to  Lawrence,  but  re- 
ceiving no  reply,  knew  he  had  gone  for  help.  He 
thought  he  was  dying,  and  his  prayer  was  that  his 


A  GOOD  SAMARITAN  25 

son  might  return  in  time  to  receive  his  dying  bless- 
ing. Soon  he  heard  hurried  footsteps,  and  saw  the 
flash  of  a  lantern.  But  they  would  have  passed  him 
if  he  had  not  faintly  called. 

In  an  instant  Lawrence  was  kneeling  by  his  side. 
"  I  am  here,  father,  I  am  here,"  he  exclaimed  joy- 
fully, "  and  with  help." 

"Fo'  de  Lawd!"  said  George.  "Is  dat  a  man? 
I  thought  it  was  a  big  white  stone." 

In  fact  Mr.  Middleton  looked  little  like  a  human 
being. 

The  negroes  raised  Mr.  Middleton  in  their  stal- 
wart arms,  but  Lawrence  had  hard  work  to  make 
them  do  so.  They  could  hardly  be  persuaded  that 
the  object  at  their  feet  was  a  man;  it  must  be  an  evil 
spirit,  and  the  boy  an  imp  to  entice  them  to  their 
destruction.  Their  teeth  fairly  chattered  with  fear. 

Lawrence  had  to  explain  what  had  happened,  be- 
fore he  could  get  them  to  touch  his  father. 

"  What  did  dey  tar  and  feather  him  f o'  ?  "  asked 
George. 

"  Because  he  said  slavery  was  wrong,"  said  Law- 
rence. "Because  he  was  the  friend  of  the  black 
men,  and  said  they  ought  to  be  free." 

"Is  he  like  John  Brown  in  Kansas?"  asked 
George,  much  interested.  "John  Brown,  he  friend 
of  black  man.  Massa  Lindsly,  he  good  massa,  but 
George  would  like  to  be  free,  just  like  white  man." 


26  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

"  Yes/'  answered  Lawrence,  "  father  is  just  like 
John  Brown.  He  is  a  friend  of  the  black  man.  It 
is  for  this  that  the  mob  used  him  as  they  did." 

To  these  simple-minded  slaves  Lawrence  could 
have  said  nothing  that  would  have  aroused  their 
sympathy  more.  Living  on  the  border  as  they  did, 
they  had  heard  of  John  Brown,  and  looked  upon  him 
as  their  saviour.  This  man  was  like  John  Brown, 
and  for  their  sakes  he  had  suffered;  and  their  fear 
turned  to  reverence.  Tenderly  they  raised  him  in 
their  arms  and  carried  him  as  easily  as  if  he  had  been 
a  child.  Lawrence  walked  by  his  father's  side  car- 
rying the  lantern,  and  encouraging  him  by  telling 
him  what  a  good  man  he  had  found. 

Judge  Lindsly  was  waiting  for  them,  and  as  he 
looked  at  Mr.  Middleton,  he  exclaimed,  "  Great  God ! 
why  did  n't  they  kill  him  at  once ! "  And  without 
ceremony  he  conducted  them  to  the  little  cabin  of 
Susan  and  Jo.  But  when  Susan  caught  a  glimpse 
of  the  burden  which  Jake  and  George  bore,  she  gave 
a  scream,  and  retreated  to  the  rear  of  the  cabin. 

"  Tak  it  away,  Massa  Lindsly,  tak  it  away.  It 's 
no  man;  it  's  de  Debbel,  an'  he  git  po'  Susan,"  she 
yelled.  "Good  Massa  Lindsly,  tell  him  to  go 
away." 

" Don't  be  foolish,  Susan,"  said  the  Judge,  "this 
is  no  devil.  It  's  a  man,  a  preacher  at  that.  You 
must  do  what  you  can  for  him." 

But  it  was  not  until  the  Doctor  came,  and  Mr. 


A  GOOD  SAMARITAN  27 

Middleton  had  been  relieved  of  some  of  his  covering, 
that  Susan  became  fully  convinced  she  was  not  en- 
tertaining His  Satanic  Majesty.  Fortunately  the 
Doctor  arrived  almost  as  soon  as  his  patient  He 
looked  at  Mr.  Middleton,  and  then  at  the  Judge,  and 
in  spite  of  himself,  a  smile  came  over  his  face.  He 
was  a  fleshy,  jolly  man,  and  his  whole  countenance 
radiated  good  humor. 

"  The  boys  did  a  splendid  job,"  he  managed  to 
whisper  to  the  Judge;  "but  the  man  is  thoroughly 
exhausted,  and  this  may  be  serious." 

He  at  once  set  to  work  with  a  will  to  do  what  he 
could.  He  first  administered  a  stimulant  and  then 
went  to  work  to  remove  the  feathers  and  tar  as  best 
he  could.  He  clipped  Mr.  Middleton's  hair  close  to 
his  head,  and  this  left  the  head  clean.  "It  is  for- 
tunate," said  the  Doctor,  "  that  they  spared  the 
face." 

It  was  not  a  hard  job  to  divest  Mr.  Middleton  of 
most  of  the  feathers,  but  the  tar  was  a  different 
matter. 

"  It  is  a  good  thing,"  said  the  Doctor,  "  that  the 
tar  has  not  been  on  long  enough  to  dry.  If  it  had 
been,  it  would  have  been  a  most  difficult  job  to  re- 
move it.  Here,  Susan,  you  and  Jo  lend  a  hand,  and 
we  will  get  off  what  we  can.  There,  there  be  care- 
ful," as  he  noticed  that  Mr.  Middleton  winced  under 
the  operation.  "Keep  up  courage,  my  friend.  It 
hurts,  but  we  will  have  you  looking  a  little  more 


28  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

respectable  after  a  while.  Mercy !  but  they  did  put 
it  on  thick/' 

Thus  the  Doctor  worked  away,  keeping  up  a  fire 
of  small  talk.  Seeing  that  Mr.  Middleton  was 
growing  very  weak,  he  said,  "  There,  that  will  do 
now.  It  will  be  a  good  long  time  before  we  get  it  all 
off."  He  then  thoroughly  anointed  his  patient  with 
oil.  "The  oil,"  he  remarked,  "will  keep  the  tar 
from  drying."  As  he  noticed  the  lacerated  feet, 
he  shook  his  head.  "This  is  bad,  bad,"  he  said. 
"  It  will  be  some  time  before  you  can  walk,  my  dear 
sir.  Thank  the  Lord  you  have  fallen  in  such  good 
hands  as  my  friend's,  Judge  Lindsly's  here." 

Having  carefully  dressed  the  wounded  feet,  the 
Doctor  said,  "  Now  for  bed,  and  quiet." 

Aunt  Susan  nearly  fainted  when  she  saw  them 
placing  Mr.  Middleton  in  her  nice  clean  bed,  for 
Susan  was  a  pattern  for  neatness. 

"  Never  mind,  Susan,"  said  the  Judge.  "  I  will  see 
that  you  have  a  brand  new  bed;  but  for  the  time 
being  I  am  afraid  you  will  have  to  give  up  the  cabin, 
and  go  and  live  with  Chloe.  During  the  day,  you 
must  come  and  nurse  Mr.  Middleton;  and  Jo  must 
see  to  him  through  the  night." 

It  was  with  grumbling  that  Susan  consented  to 
this  plan. 

During  all  this  time,  Lawrence  had  scarcely  been 
noticed.  But  now  that  his  patient  had  been  disposed 
of,  the  Doctor  said  to  the  Judge,  "And  this  little 


A  GOOD  SAMARITAN  29 

fellow,  does  he  also  need  my  attention?  Where  did 
he  come  from?" 

"  My !  I  almost  forgot  the  boy,"  said  the  Judge. 
And  then  he  told  the  story  of  the  affair  as  he  had 
heard  it,  and  how  Lawrence  had  come  to  him  for  aid. 
"But,"  he  added,  "I  have  not  yet  heard  how  he 
rescued  his  father  from  the  river." 

"  A  brave  boy,  a  brave  boy,"  said  the  Doctor.  "  I 
must  hear  his  full  story  one  of  these  days." 

Calling  Lawrence  to  him,  he  patted  him  on  the 
head,  and  said,  "  And  now,  my  little  man,  what  can 
we  do  for  you  ?  " 

"  Nothing,  sir,  only  let  me  stay  with  father,"  re- 
plied Lawrence. 

"Nothing?"  laughed  the  Doctor.  "I  should 
reckon  from  your  looks  you  at  least  needed  dry, 
clean  clothes." 

"  Bless  me !"  exclaimed  the  Judge,  "  we  must 
not  let  him  suffer." 

A  suit  of  clothes,  about  three  sizes  too  large,  was 
found.  "  It  is  an  old  suit  that  one  of  my  grandsons 
discarded  when  visiting  me  last  summer,"  said  the 
Judge,  "  but  it  will  do  until  we  can  get  his  own  suit 
cleaned  and  pressed." 

Lawrence  felt  much  better  when  his  wet  clothes 
were  off,  even  if  the  suit  he  put  on  was  a  misfit.  A 
nourishing  meal  was  also  given  him,  and  while  the 
little  fellow  had  not  realized  it  until  the  food  was 
placed  before  him,  he  was  very  hungry.  Mr.  Mid- 


80  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

dleton  was  also  given  a  little  soup.  Then  the  Doc- 
tor administered  an  opiate,  and  his  patient  was  soon 
asleep. 

"  There/'  said  the  Doctor,  "  I  think  he  will  rest 
until  morning." 

In  the  meantime,  a  pallet  had  been  spread  on  the 
floor  for  Lawrence,  and  he  was  soon  sleeping  the 
sweet  sleep  of  childhood.  As  for  Jo,  he  was  to  sit 
in  his  chair  and  watch  over  both. 

The  good  Doctor  now  prepared  to  take  his  leave 
saying  he  would  call  again  in  the  morning.  But 
when  alone  with  Judge  Lindsly,  he  exploded  and 
laughed  until  his  fat  sides  shook.  "  Excuse  me, 
Judge,"  he  exclaimed,  when  he  could  get  his  breath, 
"  but  I  can't  help  it.  I  never  saw  a  more  comical 
sight  than  that  preacher.  Yet  I  pity  the  poor  devil." 

"He  certainly  was  a  sight  to  behold,"  said  the 
Judge.  "  Do  you  think,  Doctor,  that  his  treatment 
will  endanger  his  life  ?  " 

"  It  may.  His  nervous  system  must  have  re- 
ceived a  severe  shock.  He  was  also  very  roughly 
handled,  and  his  feet  are  badly  cut  and  bruised.  As 
for  the  tar,  that  would  have  been  a  serious  business 
if  it  had  dried.  As  it  is,  I  reckon  I  can  get  it  all  off 
in  time.  How  did  you  come  to  get  hold  of  him  as 
soon  as  you  did,  Judge  ?  " 

The  Judge  told  the  story  of  the  mob  as  related  by 
Dryden,  also  how  Lawrence  had  come  to  him. 


A  GOOD  SAMARITAN  31 

The  Doctor  slapped  his  thigh.  "  By  Jove !  Judge/' 
he  exclaimed,  "that  is  a  boy  worth  having.  I  like 
his  looks,  and  he  has  a  bright,  clear  eye.  He  must 
be  clean  grit,  too.  Bit  Ketcham,  did  he  ?  And  the 
brute  tried  to  drown  him.  I  wonder  how  the  little 
fellow  managed  to  rescue  his  father.  But,  Judge, 
now  that  you  have  the  preacher  and  his  son  on  your 
hands,  what  are  you  going  to  do  with  them  ?  " 

"I  must  keep  them  until  the  preacher  gets  well 
enough  to  travel,  I  suppose,  but  this  will  not  increase 
my  popularity  in  the  county.  You  know  there  is 
some  grumbling,  because  I  will  not  endorse  all  that 
is  being  done  to  make  Kansas  a  slave  State, —  the 
outrages  on  the  ballot  box  for  instance,  and  the 
violence  used." 

The  Doctor  reflected  a  moment.  "  You  are  cer- 
tainly doing  what  few  men  in  Platte  County  would 
do/'  he  replied.  "But,  Judge,  your  kindness  and 
philanthropy  are  so  well  known,  they  may  let  it  pass. 
Why,  Judge,  you  would  n't  let  a  yellow  dog  suffer." 

"  Yes,  but  you  must)  remember  that  just  now  yel- 
low dogs  are  more  popular  in  Platte  County  than 
abolition  Methodist  preachers,"  replied  the  Judge 
grimly. 

"  You  are  right.  I  may  even  be  roundly  cursed 
for  taking  his  case.  But,  Judge,  we  will  stand  to- 
gether. Let  Bill  Ketcham  peep,  and  I  will  give  him 
a  dose  that  he  will  remember.  As  for  that  boy,  he 


32  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

is  worth  protecting,  even  if  his  father  is  n't.  But  I 
must  be  going.  Good-night,  Judge,  I  will  be  over 
in  the  morning,"  and  the  Doctor  rode  away. 

The  Judge  mused  a  moment,  and  then  entered  the 
house  where  he  found  his  wife  anxiously  awaiting 
him.  After  he  had  told  her  all,  she  said,  "  Did  n't 
you  do  a  foolish  thing  in  befriending  that  man  as 
you  have  done  ?  You  know  the  feeling  of  the  com- 
munity." 

"  I  know,  Caroline,"  answered  the  Judge,  "  but  I 
could  not  let  him  die  like  a  dog.  And  that  boy ! —  it 
would  have  taken  a  heart  of  stone  to  withstand  his 
pleading." 

"  Yes,  that  is  so,"  said  Mrs.  Lindsly.  "  I  was  as 
anxious  for  you  to  go  as  you  were  to  go,  when  I  lis- 
tened to  his  pitiful  plea.  I  hope  it  will  turn  out  all 
right";  but  the  good  woman  sighed  as  she  said  it. 

In  the  morning,  Dr.  Goodnow  found  his  patient 
feverish  and  very  weak,  but  with  no  dangerous 
symptoms.  "  He  will  pull  through,  but  it  will  take 
some  days  before  he  will  be  able  to  travel,"  he  told 
the  Judge. 

There  was  great  excitement  among  the  slaves 
when  it  became  known  what  had  happened  during 
the  night.  Jake  and  George,  who  had  gone  after 
Mr.  Middleton,  and  Jo,  to  whose  cabin  he  had  been 
taken,  whenever  they  had  a  chance  to  talk,  had  to  tell 
their  story,  over  and  over  again. 

As  for  Jo,  he  was  in  his  element.     "You  jest 


A  GOOD  SAMARITAN  33 

ought  to  hab  seen  dat  preacher,"  he  would  chuckle. 
"  Susan  thought  he  was  de  Debbel,  an'  she  jest  yell, 
as  if  de  ole  Ebel  One  had  her.  Dat  preacher  was  all 
covered  wid  feathers,  an'  a  great  bunch  on  his  haid. 
De  doctah,  he  had  to  shave  his  haid, —  no  hair  now. 
An*  we  had  to  pick  de  feathers  off  him." 

Here  Jo  would  stop  and  double  up  with  laughter. 
"I  jest  hab  to  laugh,"  he  would  explain;  "it  was 
like  pickin'  a  great  big  turkey." 

But  it  was  not  only  on  the  plantation  of  Judge 
Lindsly  that  the  affair  created  excitement.  The 
news  of  the  lynching,  and  that  the  victim  had  been 
cared  for  by  Judge  Lindsly,  spread  over  the  county 
like  wildfire.  A  few  commended  the  Judge,  but 
the  great  majority  shook  their  heads,  and  said  he 
ought  to  have  let  the  preacher  die.  Some  of  the 
mob  went  so  far  as  to  say  the  same  dose  given  the 
preacher  ought  to  be  dealt  out  to  the  Judge.  But 
very  few  upheld  Ketcham's  attempt  to  drown  the 
boy,  and  when  he  was  upbraided  for  it  he  replied, 
"  Fudge !  I  knew  the  little  devil  could  swim." 

Lawrence  became  quite  a  hero  in  the  eyes  of  the 
people,  who,  above  everything  else,  admire  bravery, 
and  many  called  to  see  him. 

As  the  days  passed,  the  whisperings  against  the 
Judge  became  mutterings.  It  became  known  that 
the  Judge  was  not  only  caring  for  the  preacher,  but 
that  he  had  taken  him  into  his  house,  and  was  treat- 
ing him  as  an  honored  guest.  Then  the  mutterings 


34  WITH  LYON   IN  MISSOURI 

became  more  threatening,  and  it  needed  but  a  word 
to  fan  the  slumbering  fire  into  open  flame. 

For  a  week,  Mr.  Middleton's  condition  remained 
about  the  same; 'after  that,  under  the  skilful  treat- 
ment of  Doctor  Goodnow,  he  began  to  mend  rapidly. 
For  the  first  few  days,  beyond  seeing  he  had  good 
care,  Judge  Lindsly  paid  but  little  attention  to  his 
guest.  What  he  did  he  felt  to  be  his  duty,  but  he 
had  no  desire  to  cultivate  a  close  acquaintance.  It 
was  the  Doctor  who  brought  about  a  change. 

"Judge,  this  is  no  ignorant,  fanatical  Methodist 
preacher  you  have  on  your  hands,"  he  remarked  one 
day,  "  but  a  man  of  fine  education,  and  rare  attain- 
ments. And  that  boy,  I  tell  you,  has  the  making 
of  a  man  in  him.  It  is  almost  a  pity  to  keep  them 
down  there  in  that  slave  cabin." 

After  he  had  gone,  the  Judge  resolved  to  visit  Mr. 
Middleton  and  see  what  the  Doctor  saw  in  him  that 
led  him  to  speak  as  he  did.  The  result  of  that  visit 
was  that  both  Mr.  Middleton  and  Lawrence  were 
moved  to  the  house,  and  to  all  appearances  became 
welcome  guests  of  their  host.  The  Judge,  as  the 
Doctor  had  said,  found  Mr.  Middleton,  not  only  a 
man  of  high  education,  but  a  pleasing  and  inter- 
esting conversationalist,  and  they  enjoyed  many  a 
talk  together. 

"How  is  it,"  asked  the  Judge  one  day,  "that  a 
man  of  your  education  and  refinement  came  wander- 


A  GOOD  SAMARITAN  35 

ing  through  Missouri  as  you  did,  on  your  way  to 
Kansas?" 

"  It  is  but  just  to  you,  Judge,"  answered  Mr.  Mid- 
dleton,  "that  you  should  know  a  little  of  my  past 
history.  As  you  surmise,  I  have  a  collegiate  educa- 
tion. For  some  years  I  was  a  professor  in  the  Uni- 
versity of  N .  Then  I  took  a  pastorate,  and 

until  two  years  ago  I  was  the  pastor  of  one  of  the 
largest  Methodist  churches  in  Ohio.  At  that  time 
my  wife  was  taken  from  me.  The  blow  nearly 
killed  me.  I  lost  interest  in  church  work,  and  re- 
signed my  pastorate.  Then  came  this  Kansas 
trouble,  and  I  heard  that  many  of  our  church  mem- 
bers had  migrated  thither,  and  were  without  a  shep- 
herd. I  offered  my  services  to  the  aid  society,  and 
they  were  gladly  accepted.  I  thought  that  a  change 
would  arouse  my  flagging  energies  and  do  me  good." 

"You  certainly  have  had  excitement  enough  to 
arouse  the  energies  of  a  nearly  dead  man,"  remarked 
the  Judge,  with  a  smile. 

"  Yes,  it  has  been  strenuous  enough  to  suit  me," 
answered  Mr.  Middleton.  "But  to -continue.  I 
could  not  bear  to  leave  my  little  boy  behind,  so  I 
brought  him  along.  I  started  with  a  good  horse  and 
buggy.  Unfortunately  I  did  not  fully  understand 
the  feeling  in  your  State,  and  entered  it  too  far 
south.  In  fact  I  ought  to  have  kept  out  of  Missouri 
entirely,  and  gone  through  Iowa.  But  by  being 


36  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

careful  I  had  little  trouble  until  I  reached  the  north- 
ern part  of  Clay  County.  A  couple  of  days  before 
I  encountered  the  mob  here,  I  drove  into  a  small  vil- 
lage where  a  political  meeting  was  in  progress. 
There  were  a  great  many  drunken  men  around,  and 
before  I  was  aware  of  it,  the  buggy  was  surrounded 
by  a  crowd  who  demanded  who  I  was,  and  where  I 
was  going.  I  evaded  them  by  telling  them  I  was 
going  to  St.  Joseph,  which  was  true,  as  I  wished  to 
make  that  city. 

"'He  talks  like  a  Northerner,'  yelled  one,  and 
I  had  to  admit  I  was  from  Ohio. 

"'Who  are  you  for,  for  President?'  yelled 
another.  I  told  them  I  was  not  in  politics,  and 
did  not  expect  to  vote  for  any  one ;  in  fact  could  not, 
as  I  should  not  be  a  legal  voter  anywhere. 

"'Hurrah  for  Buchanan!'  they  shouted,  'Hur- 
rah for  Buchanan!  Show  your  colors!' 

"  I  suppose  I  was  foolish,  but  this  I  absolutely 
refused  to  do.  It  seemed  to  me  almost  like  denying 
my  Saviour.  The  first  I  knew,  I  was  surrounded 
by  a  howling  mob,  my  buggy  was  overturned  and 
smashed,  my  baggage  was  scattered  to  the  four 
winds,  and  my  horse  was  frightened  and  ran  away, 
and  that  was  the  last  I  saw  of  him. 

"  I  was  saved  from  bodily  injury  by  some  cooler 
heads,  but  told  to  leave  the  town  at  once.  That 
evening  Lawrence  and  I  slept  in  the  woods.  I  had 
a  little  over  four  hundred  dollars  with  me.  This 


A  GOOD  SAMARITAN  37 

money  I  divided,  sewing  half  of  it  in  my  boy's  coat, 
and  keeping  the  other  half  myself.  What  I  gave 
the  boy  is  fortunately  saved.  I  think  some  of  those 
who  mobbed  me  must  have  followed  on  horseback, 
and  got  ahead,  arousing  the  mob  I  met  at  Platte 
River,  for  I  was  suddenly  surrounded,  and  those 
who  composed  the  mob  seemed  to  know  who  I  was, 
and  what  had  happened  to  me." 

"It  was  very  foolish  your  attempting  to  reach 
Kansas  by  coming  the  route  you  did/'  said  the 
Judge.  "It  is  a  wonder  you  were  not  mobbed 
sooner.  The  country  you  came  through  is  as  in- 
tensely Southern  as  Mississippi.  You  were  wise 
in  dividing  your  money  with  the  boy." 

"Yes,  and  I  want  you  to  do  me  a  favor,  Judge. 
Will  you  not  take  some  of  that  money,  and  buy 
me  a  decent  outfit  of  clothes?  Lawrence  also  must 
have  a  full  outfit.  You  know  I  am  wearing  your 
clothes  now." 

"  And  they  fit  you  very  well,"  answered  the  Judge 
laughing,  "  but  I  will  see  to  the  clothes." 

The  Judge  was  as  good  as  his  word.  He  went 
to  Platte  City  the  next  day,  and  purchased  full  out- 
fits for  both  Mr.  Middleton  and  Lawrence. 

"  How  can  I  ever  reward  you  for  your  kind- 
ness?" said  Mr.  Middleton  with  emotion,  as  the 
parcels  were  delivered.  "But,  Judge,  there  is  an- 
other matter  of  which  I  wish  to  speak.  Lawrence 
tells  me  some  of  your  neighbors  are  very  angry  be- 


38  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

cause  you  are  harboring  us.  He  overheard  two  men 
talking  to-day.  He  was  in  the  woods  looking  for 
nuts,  and  they  came  and  stood  close  to  where  he 
was.  He  could  not  understand  all  that  they  said, 
but  he  understood  enough  to  know  there  is  mischief 
brewing.  One  of  them  said  you  ought  to  be  given 
the  same  medicine  that  the  preacher  got.  Then  they 
whispered,  and  one  of  them  said  out  loud,  '  We  will 
hang  him  next  time/  3 

The  Judge  looked  grave.  "You  need  not  fear 
for  me,"  he  said,  "  but  I  am  afraid  that  last  remark 
applied  to  you.  Do  not  be  alarmed  at  what  I  tell 
you.  I  know  that  there  are  two  or  three  men  trying 
to  stir  up  another  mob  to  come  and  take  you  by 
force  and  hang  you.  They  have  not  succeeded  so 
far,  but  the  election  is  close  at  hand,  and  the  people 
are  greatly  excited.  A  spark,  a  trivial  circumstance, 
may  cause  an  explosion.  I  think  it  best  that  as  soon 
as  you  are  able  to  travel,  I  find  means  of  getting  you 
over  to  Kansas." 

"  Why  not  send  me  right  away  ?  "  asked  Mr.  Mid- 
dleton  anxiously. 

"You  are  not  yet  able  to  ride,  much  less  walk," 
answered  the  Judge.  "  Within  a  week  will  be  time 
enough." 

But  incidents  were  happening  of  which  neither 
knew,  toward  hastening  the  departure  of  Mr.  Mid- 
dleton,  and  in  a  way  that  neither  suspected. 

William  Ketcham  had  made  a  discovery  which 


A  GOOD  SAMARITAN  39 

greatly  alarmed  him.  At  the  time  Mr.  Middleton 
was  mobbed,  it  will  be  remembered  that  he  was 
stripped.  Ketcham  took  charge  of  his  clothes. 
Only  a  few  dollars  were  found  in  the  pockets  and 
a  package  of  letters. 

"  Keep  the  money,  Bill,"  said  one,  "  and  pay  for 
the  expense  of  this  show.  Then  when  we  get  to- 
gether again  you  can  set  them  up." 

"Might  as  well  keep  the  clothes,  too,"  said 
Ketcham,  "  it  looks  like  a  pretty  good  suit." 

So  when  he  went  away,  he  carried  the  suit  with 
him.  He  threw  it  aside  and  did  not  think  of  it  for 
some  days,  but  noticing  it  one  day  he  thought  he 
would  examine  it. 

"A  blamed  good  suit;  as  good  as  I  ever  wore," 
he  soliloquized.  "  I  wonder  if  it  will  fit  me." 

As  he  talked  he  ran  his  hand  over  the  coat.  He 
thought  he  heard  a  rustle,  and  surely  the  coat  was 
thicker  in  one  place  than  elsewhere.  He  examined 
the  seam  closely,  and  it  had  the  appearance  of  having 
been  opened  and  only  roughly  closed.  To  re-open 
the  seam  was  the  work  of  a  moment,  and  he  was  re- 
warded in  his  search  by  finding  two  hundred  dollars 
in  bills. 

"You  are  a  lucky  man,  William  Ketcham,"  he 
chuckled.  "The  boys  need  know  nothing  of  this. 
Reckon  I  will  open  this  bunch  of  letters  now,  I  may 
find  something  in  them." 

He  looked  at  one,  and  then  another  and  cast  them 


40  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

aside  with  a  contemptuous  grunt.  But  at  last  he 
came  to  one  that  made  him  start  in  surprise,  for  in  it 
he  saw  his  own  name.  He  read  and  reread  it,  and 
as  he  did  so,  great  drops  of  sweat  stood  out  on  his 
forehead. 

"That  preacher  must  die,"  he  muttered.  "Fool 
that  I  was  not  to  hang  him  when  I  had  him  in  my 
power.  Came  here  to  spy  on  me,  did  he?  Well, 
I  will  fix  him." 

Folding  up  the  letter  he  sought  one  of  his  pals, 
one  that  he  could  trust. 

"  Read  that,  Bob,"  he  said,  as  he  placed  the  let- 
ter in  his  hands. 

Bob  Travers  took  the  letter,  and  this  is  what  he 
read: 
MY  DEAR  MIDDLETON  : — 

I  understand  you  are  starting  for  Kansas  in  a  few 
days,  and  on  the  score  of  old  friendship,  I  ask  you  to 
do  a  little  detective  work  for  me  while  there.  I  shall 
be  in  Kansas  myself  by  the  close  of  the  year,  but  can- 
not go  now. 

I  do  not  know  as  you  are  aware  that  sometime  ago 
I  had  a  brother  brutally  murdered  in  Kansas.  As 
near  as  I  can  learn,  the  name  of  the  murderer  was 
William  Ketcham,  but  so  far  he  has  escaped  justice 
owing  to  the  unhappy  condition  of  that  territory. 
Enclosed  I  send  you  all  the  facts  in  the  case  as  far 
as  I  know.  If  possible,  will  you  not  try  to  find  out 
more  of  the  facts,  and  where  this  Ketcham  can  be 
found;  for  when  I  come  I  will  have  justice,  if  it  can 
be  had  in  this  world.  I  hope  to  see  you  before  the 
close  of  the  year. 

Yours  ever,  CHARLES  CANFIELD. 


A  GOOD  SAMARITAN  41 

Travers  gave  a  low  whistle  as  he  finished  the 
letter. 

"  You  know  all  about  it,  Bob,  you  were  with  me," 
said  Ketcham. 

"Yes,  and  gave  you  thunder  for  shooting  the 
fellow.  It  was  about  as  useless  a  killing  as  I  ever 
saw,  but  for  your  sake  I  swore  it  was  in  self- 
defence/' 

"The  officer  who  investigated  seemed  to  be  sat- 
isfied/' replied  Ketcham  doggedly. 

"Yes,  because  he  was  one  of  our  kind.  Took 
my  word,  and  refused  to  call  other  witnesses.  Then 
you  remember  we  greased  him  to  the  tune  of  five 
hundred.  Bill,  if  that  affair  is  ever  probed  to  the 
bottom  it  will  go  hard  with  you/' 

"  You  have  n't  gone  back  on  me,  have  you, 
Bob?" 

"Not  by  a  long  shot.  What  a  pity  we  did  n't  hang 
that  preacher  when  we  had  him." 

"  It  is  not  too  late  yet,"  responded  Ketcham  with 
an  oath. 

"  How  are  you  going  to  get  him  when  he  is  under 
old  Lindsly's  wing?"  asked  Travers. 

"Take  him,  take  him  by  force,  and  if  Lindsly 
objects,  let  him  take  the  consequences." 

"  But  will  the  boys  be  with  you  ?  "  inquired  Tra- 
vers. 

"  I  can  rally  thirty  in  twenty- four  hours,  if  need 
be.  How  are  you,  Bob?  " 


42  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

"Put  it  there/'  said  Travers,  extending  his  hand. 
And  the  two  men  shook  hands. 

"When  the  preacher  is  out  of  the  way,"  con- 
tinued Ketcham,  "  we  will  look  out  for  this  Can- 
field  when  he  comes,  and  see  that  he  makes  no 
trouble." 

"  The  quicker  we  get  the  preacher  out  of  the  way 
the  better,"  said  Travers.  "When  will  it  be?" 

"  Not  until  we  get  back  from  Kansas,"  answered 
Ketcham.  "You  know  we  have  a  raid  all  planned 
for  to-morrow  night." 

"  That 's  so.  Well,  we  can  attend  to  the  preacher 
as  we  come  back.  Do  it  all  up  in  one  job,  as  it 
were,"  said  Travers  with  a  laugh. 

The  raid  was  made  as  planned,  but  in  some  way 
the  settlers  had  been  informed  of  their  coming,  and 
the  raiders  met  with  a  warm  reception,  being  driven 
back  with  the  loss  of  one  killed  and  two  wounded. 
One  of  the  wounded  was  Ketcham,  who  had  re- 
ceived a  ball  through  the  hand,  the  same  hand  that 
had  applied  the  tar  to  Mr.  Middleton. 

He  was  insane  with  rage,  and  no  sooner  had  the 
band  reached  Missouri  soil  than  he  called  a  halt. 

"  Boys,  there  is  a  traitor  somewhere,"  he  ex- 
claimed. "  Those  settlers  must  have  been  informed 
of  our  coming,  or  they  could  never  have  gathered 
in  such  force." 

"  Pint  the  traitor  out,  and  he  will  swing  from  a 
tree,"  growled  one  of  the  gang. 


A  GOOD  SAMARITAN  43 

"  I  know  who  it  is,"  cunningly  continued  Ketcham, 
"  but  it  is  none  of  the  boys ;  it 's  that  preacher  Mid- 
dleton  that  Judge  Lindsly  is  harboring.  I  received 
warning  he  was  a  spy,  but  paid  little  attention 
to  it." 

"How  could  he  get  the  news  across  the  river?" 
asked  one. 

"  Oh !  that 's  easy,"  said  Ketcham,  "  that  precious 
boy  of  his  is  always  sneaking  around,  and  he  is 
thick  with  the  slaves.  Judge  Lindsly  is  easy,  you 
know,  with  his  niggers.  Never  knows  where  they 
are  nights." 

"Let  's  hang  the  preacher,  anyway,  to  pay  for 
poor  Dick  Sales.  A  nice  figure  we  cut,  sneaking 
back  from  Kansas  with  one  dead,  and  two  wounded," 
spoke  up  another  of  the  gang.  "But  what  if  the 
Judge  shows  fight  ?  " 

"He  dare  not,"  said  Ketcham,  "when  he  sees  our 
numbers.  He  may  bluster  for  a  time,  but  he  will 
give  the  preacher  up  when  it  comes  to  the  scratch." 

"I  don't  know  about  that,"  spoke  up  Travers, 
"  the  Judge  has  lots  of  sand." 

"We'll  take  the  preacher,  anyway,"  growled 
Ketcham,  "  and  if  the  Judge  gets  hurt,  it  will  be  his 
own  fault.  What  do  you  say,  boys?  " 

"  Agreed !  We  are  just  aching  for  a  little  necktie 
party,  anyway,"  they  shouted.  "  Lead  on,  Bill." 

Well  satisfied  with  his  success,  Ketcham  said,  "  All 
right,  boys,  but  no  flinching !  Come  on ! " 


44  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

The  gang  started  in  high  glee.  To  them  to  hang 
an  abolitionist  was  the  height  of  sport.  Just  before 
they  reached  their  destination,  they  halted  and  held 
a  consultation  as  to  the  best  manner  of  proceeding. 
It  was  decided  that  at  first,  only  three  or  four  of  the 
gang  should  show  themselves,  and  try  to  get  hold  of 
the  preacher  by  surprise  or  strategy.  If  this  failed, 
the  whole  gang  would  come  and  take  Mr.  Middleton 
by  force. 

Ketcham,  accompanied  by  three  of  his  men,  rode 
up  to  the  residence  of  Judge  Lindsly.  As  the 
weather  was  mild  for  the  time  of  year,  to  their  cha- 
grin they  found  the  Judge  sitting  on  his  porch. 
Surprise  was  impossible. 

"Howdy,  Judge?"  said  Ketcham  pleasantly. 

"Quite  well,  thank  you,"  replied  the  Judge. 
"  What  can  I  do  for  you,  gentlemen  ?  Will  you  not 
dismount  ?  I  have  just  been  making  some  fine  cider ; 
perhaps  you  gentlemen  would  like  to  test  it." 

"  Cider  is  a  mighty  thin  drink,  Judge,"  replied 
Ketcham  with  a  laugh,  as  he  threw  himself  from  his 
horse. 

"Well,  perhaps  I  can  find  something  stronger," 
answered  the  Judge.  "What  do  you  say  to  some 
fine  old  bourbon?" 

"Just  the  thing,  Judge.  Just  the  thing,"  replied 
the  delighted  Ketcham.  "  What  do  you  say,  boys  ?  " 

"  It  suits  us,"  answered  the  three  as  they  smacked 


A  GOOD  SAMARITAN  45 

their  lips.  The  Judge's  bourbon  was  famous 
throughout  the  county. 

Judge  Lindsly  stepped  into  the  house,  and  spoke 
to  a  servant.  When  he  came  out,  it  was  noticed  he 
took  a  position  close  to  the  door.  Soon  a  neat  look- 
ing colored  girl  came  out  with  a  tray  on  which  were 
glasses  and  a  decanter.  Each  of  the  four  took  a 
couple  of  drinks. 

"  I  say,  Judge,  that  's  the  real  stuff,"  remarked 
Ketcham.  "  Whar  did  you  get  it  ?  " 

"Direct  from  old  Kentucky,"  replied  the  Judge. 
"  I  am  glad  you  like  it." 

"Nothing  like  good  ol'  bourbon,"  continued 
Ketcham,  looking  at  his  empty  glass  wistfully.  "  I 
say,  Judge,  if  those  blamed  abolitionists  of  the  North 
would  drink  more  bourbon,  thar  would  not  be  so 
many  of  them." 

The  conversation  now  lagged  for  a  while.  It  was 
hard  for  Ketcham  to  state  his  business  to  so  cour- 
teous a  host.  At  last  he  said :  "  By  the  way,  Judge, 
how  is  that  preacher  we  had  the  fun  with,  getting 
along?" 

"Improving  slowly,"  answered  the  Judge  coldly. 

"Judge,  we  know  your  kindness  of  heart,  and 
honor  you  for  it,"  continued  Ketcham  softly,  "but 
that  fellow  is  imposing  on  you." 

"  How  it  that  ?  "  asked  the  Judge.  "  He  does  not 
profess  to  be  anything  but  what  he  is." 


46  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

"Don't  be  too  sure.  I  have  evidence,  positive 
evidence,  that  the  fellow  is  a  spy,  a  mean,  sneaking 
spy,  and  he  is  here  in  the  pay  of  the  abolitionists  to 
spy  upon  us." 

"How  did  you  find  that  out?"  The  Judge's 
voice  was  colder  than  ever. 

Ketcham  hesitated,  then  replied,  "  I  do  not  mind 
telling  you  we  are  just  back  from  a  raid  in  Kansas 
to  break  up  a  band  of  outlaws  who  have  made  it 
a  business  to  come  over  here  and  steal  our  niggers. 
In  some  way,  they  found  out  we  were  coming,  and 
gave  us  a  warm  reception.  We  are  bringing  back 
poor  Dick  Sales  dead." 

"  How  about  you  ?  I  see  you  have  your  hand  in 
a  sling."  There  was  a  tinge  of  sarcasm  in  the  voice 
of  the  Judge  when  he  asked  the  question. 

"  Oh !  they  plugged  me  through  the  hand,  but  it  is 
not  much.  But  to  come  to  the  point.  We  have 
found  out  for  sure  that  it  was  the  preacher  who  sent 
the  word  we  were  coming." 

"  He  ?  How  could  that  be  ?"  asked  the  Judge  in 
surprise.  "To  my  certain  knowledge  he  has  not 
been  out  of  his  room." 

"How  about  that  sneaking  boy  of  his?"  asked 
Ketcham.  "That  little  chap  is  sharp.  He  found  it 
out,  told  his  father,  and  no  doubt,  one  of  the  slaves 
carried  the  news  over,  and  got  back  before  morn- 
ing." 

"  My  slaves  are  not  bearers  of  such  news,"  replied 


A  GOOD  SAMARITAN  47 

the  Judge.  "Ketcham,  this  story  is  but  a  subter- 
fuge. Why  beat  around  the  bush?  The  facts  are, 
you  fellows  have  made  a  raid  over  in  Kansas,  got 
beaten,  and  come  back  sore ;  and  now  want  your  re- 
venge out  on  Middleton.  What  do  you  propose  to 
do  with  him,  if  I  give  him  up  ?  " 

"Hang  him,"  blurted  out  Ketcham.  "The  boys 
are  wild  over  the  death  of  Sales,  and  nothing  else 
will  satisfy  them." 

"  You  can't  have  him,  and  the  quicker  you  get  out 
of  here  the  better."  There  was  no  mistaking  the 
voice  of  the  Judge.  He  was  terribly  in  earnest. 

"  Judge,  I  am  sorry,"  said  Ketcham.  "  We  don't 
want  to  hurt  you,  but  that  man  we  must  have.  I 
don't  blame  you  for  making  a  show  of  resistance,  but 
you  see  the  folly  of  making  a  fight.  Better  give  him 
up  peaceably." 

With  this  he  attempted  to  enter  the  house,  but  was 
astounded  to  find  himself  confronted  by  the  Judge, 
and  looking  into  the  muzzle  of  a  revolver. 

"  Another  step  and  you  are  a  dead  man,"  said  the 
Judge  coolly. 

Ketcham  recoiled,  and  took  a  step  backward. 
"  Judge,  do  you  mean  this  ?  "  he  asked,  astounded. 

"I  certainly  mean  it.  There!  don't  you  attempt 
to  draw  a  gun,  or  any  of  your  companions.  If 
you  do,  I  fire.  Now  face  about,  and  get  off  the 
porch,  and  you  and  your  companions  make  your- 
selves scarce,  as  soon  as  possible." 


48  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

Just  then  the  Judge  felt  a  tug  at  his  coat,  and  a 
childish  voice  said,  "  Please  give  me  a  pistol,  too, 
Judge  Lindsly." 

Lawrence  had  heard  the  altercation,  had  come  to 
the  door,  and  at  once  had  recognized  the  man  who 
threw  him  into  the  river. 

Without  lowering  his  weapon  or  looking  down, 
Judge  Lindsly  asked,  "What  do  you  want  with  a 
pistol,  Lawrence  ?  " 

"  To  shoot  that  man,"  replied  the  boy  pointing  at 
Ketcham.  "  I  hate  him." 

"  This  is  no  place  for  you.  Go  back  into  the  house 
at  once,"  commanded  the  Judge. 

Lawrence  reluctantly  obeyed. 

In  the  meantime  Ketcham  and  his  men  had  made 
a  pretence  of  retiring,  but  instead  the  leader  had 
made  a  signal  to  the  rest  of  his  gang,  and  they  came 
galloping  up,  some  fifteen  in  number. 

Ketcham  now  turned  back,  and  with  a  look  of 
triumph  on  his  face,  cried,  "You  see  you  are  out- 
numbered. We  are  going  to  have  that  preacher, 
even  if  we  have  to  get  him  over  your  dead  body.  Be 
sensible,  and  let  us  have  him  peaceably." 

"  Never,"  replied  the  Judge  through  his  set  teeth, 
the  gleam  of  battle  in  his  eye. 

What  would  have  happened  in  the  next  moment 
would  be  hard  to  tell,  if  the  Doctor  had  not  come 
driving  up  in  his  gig.  He  looked  upon  the  scene  in 


"  Please  give  me  a  pistol,  too,  Judge  Lindsly" 


A  GOOD  SAMARITAN  49 

amazement.  "Why!  Why!  What  is  this?"  he  ex- 
claimed. "  What  does  this  mean?  " 

"It  means  that  we  have  come  for  that  cursed 
abolition  preacher  to  hang  him,  and  we  are  going  to 
have  him,"  replied  Ketcham  sullenly,  "  and  don't  you 
dare  interfere,  Doc." 

"  What  does  the  Judge  say?  "  asked  the  Doctor. 

"  He  is  fool  enough  to  say  he  will  defend  the  fel- 
low to  the  death,"  growled  Ketcham.  "  He  will 
have  a  chance,  if  he  does  n't  get  a  little  more 
reasonable. 

"So  you  thought  I  could  n't  kill  the  preacher 
quick  enough,  and  concluded  to  take  a  hand,"  said 
the  Doctor,  with  a  laugh. 

"  That 's  about  it,"  replied  Ketcham,  hardly  know- 
ing how  to  take  him. 

"  Look  a-here,  Bill,"  said  the  Doctor  with  a  com- 
ical wink ;  "  don't  you  know  this  is  reflecting  on  me  ? 
Have  you  ever  counted  the  number  of  my  patients 
I  have  put  under  ground  ?  " 

"  Never  have,  Doc,"  replied  Ketcham,  with  a  grin, 
"  but  there  has  been  heaps  of  them." 

"  Just  so,  and  yet  you  can't  give  me  a  little  time 
with  this  preacher.  It  is  n't  fair,  boys.  Well,  I  ad- 
mit the  preacher  is  a  tough  proposition.  You  fel- 
lows tried  to  kill  him  and  failed ;  I  have  tried  it  for 
nearly  three  weeks,  and  he  is  alive  yet,  so  you  think 
nothing  will  do  but  a  rope." 


50  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

"  That 's  about  it,  Doc,"  the  crowd  yelled. 

"And  the  Judge  here  objects  to  this  little  necktie 
party,"  continued  the  Doctor. 

"  But  we  will  have  it,  all  the  same,"  chorused  the 
crowd. 

"  Well,  well,  the  Judge  never  was  much  of  a  hand 
for  fun,  and  I  have  always  known  him  to  be  an 
obstinate  man,  but  I  reckon  I  can  convince  him. 
Hold  steady,  boys,  until  I  try  my  hand.  Don't  let 
us  have  any  blood-letting,  if  we  can  help  it." 

"Hurrah!  Hurrah!  the  Doctor  is  with  us," 
shouted  the  mob.  "  Now  we  are  all  right." 

The  Doctor  went  to  his  gig,  and  took  from  under 
the  seat  two  wicked-looking  revolvers.  "  These  are 
beauties,"  said  he;  "they  never  miss  fire,  and  I 
never  miss  the  mark.  Now,  boys,  let  me  interview 
the  Judge.  I  reckon  I  can  persuade  him  to  give  up 
the  preacher  without  trouble.  If  he  kicks,  these  fel- 
lows will  have  a  remarkably  quieting  effect  on  him 
until  the  job  is  done." 

Thus  saying,  the  Doctor  made  his  way  up  the 
steps  to  the  porch  where  the  Judge  stood.  The  mob 
noticed  that  the  latter  made  no  objection  to  the  ad- 
vance of  the  Doctor,  but  that  he  still  kept  his  weapon 
levelled,  so  as  to  cover  one  of  their  number. 

But  no  sooner  did  the  Doctor  reach  the  side  of 
the  Judge,  than  his  whole  demeanor  changed. 
Turning  he  held  a  revolver  cocked  in  each  hand, 
and  to  his  dismay  Ketcham  saw  that  the  muzzle  of 


A  GOOD  SAMARITAN  51 

one  was  pointed  directly  at  his  breast,  and  that  the 
Doctor's  finger  rested  on  the  trigger. 

"  Boys,"  the  Doctor  began,  in  a  voice  which  did 
not  show  the  least  trace  of  excitement,  "this  farce 
has  now  gone  far  enough.  I  will  give  you  just  two 
minutes  to  get  out  of  here.  If  one  of  you  remains, 
at  the  end  of  that  time,  these  fellows  bark,  and  when 
they  bark,  as  you  well  know,  they  bite.  I  shall 
count  a  hundred,  by  that  time  you  must  all  be  gone." 

But  he  had  not  counted  fifty  before  there  was  not 
a  man  left,  and  all  that  was  seen  of  the  mob  was  a 
cloud  of  dust  disappearing  down  the  road. 
"Judge,"  said  he,  as  he  turned  to  that  personage, 
"  that  patient  of  mine  seems  to  be  giving  you  some 
trouble.  I  reckon  it  would  be  wise  to  ship  him 
at  once." 

"Doctor,  you  are  talking  sense,"  answered  the 
Judge ;  "  but  come  in  and  let  us  finish  the  rest  of  that 
decanter." 


CHAPTER  III 

A  SCRAP  OF  HISTORY 

THAT  our  young  readers  may  fully  under- 
stand this  story,  it  may  be  necessary  to  give 
a  few  historical  facts.  For  several  years  be- 
fore the  great  Civil  War,  a  cruel  and  relentless 
warfare  raged  along  the  borders  of  Kansas  and 
Missouri. 

From  the  very  inception  of  our  Government,  up 
to  the  secession  of  the  Southern  States,  slavery  had 
been  a  bone  of  contention.  At  the  adoption  of  the 
Constitution  there  was  but  one  of  the  original  thir- 
teen States  that  did  not  hold  slaves.  The  Northern 
States  gradually  abolished  it,  but  it  fastened  itself 
on  the  Southern  States  with  a  grip  of  iron. 

The  Fathers  of  the  Republic  were  in  hope  that 
slavery  would  gradually  die  out;  and  toward  this 
end,  when  the  great  Northwest  Territory  was  or- 
ganized, out  of  which,  afterwards,  there  were  five 
States  created,  there  was  a  proviso  that  it  should 
be  forever  dedicated  to  freedom. 

Missouri  was  admitted  into  the  Union  in  1820, 
and  it  wished  to  come  in  as  a  Slave  State.  It  ex- 
tended so  far  North  that  this  was  bitterly  opposed 
by  the  free  States,  and  the  nation  became  greatly  ex- 
cited. This  was  the  beginning  of  the  struggle  be- 

52 


A  SCRAP  OF  HISTORY  63 

tween  freedom  and  slavery.  At  last  a  compromise 
was  effected.  It  was  agreed  that  Missouri  might 
come  in  as  a  slave  State,  but  that  thereafter  no  slave 
States  should  be  admitted  north  of  the  parallel  36 
degrees,  30  minutes.  This  line  is  what  is  known  in 
history  as  the  Mason  and  Dixon  Line. 

In  1850,  California  was  admitted  into  the  Union 
as  a  free  State.  The  southern  portion  of  it  lies  south 
of  the  Mason  and  Dixon  Line,  and  as  it  was  ad- 
mitted as  a  free  State,  the  friends  of  slavery  claimed 
that  the  Compromise  had  been  broken,  and  there- 
fore should  no  longer  be  held  as  a  law  of  the  land. 

To  conciliate  the  South,  the  Fugitive  Slave  Law 
was  passed.  This  law  compelled  the  people  of  the 
North  to  become  slave-hunters  in  case  of  runaway 
slaves.  So  drastic  were  its  provisions  that  a  South- 
ern writer  and  a  friend  of  slavery  says : 

"Some  of  its  provisions  were  not  only  inconsistent 
with  the  civilization  of  the  age,  but  required  citizens  of 
Massachusetts,  New  York,  and  Ohio  to  do  what  no 
self-respecting  Virginian  could  have  been  forced  to 
do." 

This  law,  as  it  should,  produced  righteous  indig- 
nation throughout  the  entire  North. 

About  this  time  the  Territories  of  Kansas  and  Ne- 
braska began  to  be  settled.  Now  began  a  political 
contest  memorable  in  the  history  of  the  nation,  a 
contest  in  which  the  great  names  of  Lincoln  and 
Douglas  became  inseparably  linked.  The  South  was 


54  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

determined  to  make  Kansas  a  slave  State.  To  ac- 
complish this,  the  Missouri  Compromise  would  have 
to  be  repealed. 

Stephen  A.  Douglas,  one  of  the  greatest  states- 
men ever  produced  by  this  country,  and  known  as 
the  Little  Giant,  was  an  aspirant  for  the  presidency. 
To  realize  the  height  of  his  ambition,  he  had  to  con- 
ciliate the  South.  He  therefore  advanced  a  doctrine 
known  as  "Squatter  Sovereignty."  It  was  that  the 
citizens  of  each  Territory  should  settle  for  them- 
selves the  question  whether  the  Territory  should 
come  in  as  a  free  or  a  slave  State. 

Around  this  doctrine  a  political  battle  was  fought 
in  Congress,  which  stirred  the  country  from  centre 
to  circumference.  The  advocates  of  "Squatter  Sov- 
ereignty" won,  and  the  Missouri  Compromise  was 
repealed. 

In  May,  1854,  what  was  known  as  the  Kansas- 
Nebraska  Act  was  passed.  This  act  provided  that 
when  these  Territories  asked  to  be  admitted  as 
States,  they  should  come  in  as  free  or  as  slave 
States,  as  the  citizens  of  the  Territories  themselves 
should  decide. 

Douglas  fondly  hoped  that  this  would  pacify  the 
South,  and  forever  settle  the  vexed  question  of  slav- 
ery. But  instead  of  settling  the  question,  it  opened  a 
Pandora  box,  and  the  whole  country  was  soon  en- 
gaged in  a  bitter  strife.  A  conflict  began  which 


A  SCRAP  OF  HISTORY  55 

raged  with  greater  or  less  fury,  until  it  culminated 
in  the  Civil  War. 

The  question  now  was,  Which  side  could  bring  the 
most  immigrants  into  the  Territory  of  Kansas  ?  All 
over  the  North,  especially  in  the  New  England 
States,  aid  societies  were  formed  to  assist,  and  to 
induce  immigrants  to  settle  in  Kansas.  Soon  a 
stream  of  settlers  from  the  North  was  pouring  into 
that  Territory.  Many  rough  and  adventurous 
spirits  were  among  the  immigrants,  but  the  great 
majority  were  hardy,  honest  men  whose  purpose 
was  to  make  a  home.  That  many  others  went  for 
the  sole  purpose  of  making  Kansas  a  free  State, 
there  can  be  no  doubt. 

In  this  contest,  the  North  had  all  the  advantage. 
It  was  impossible  for  a  slaveowner  to  avoid  bank- 
ruptcy if  he  moved  into  Kansas  with  his  slaves. 
The  non-slaveowners  of  the  South  could  not  be  in- 
duced to  go.  The  large  majority  of  these  non-slave- 
owners were  known  in  the  South  as  "poor  white 
trash,"  and  lacked  enterprise  and  ambition.  It  was 
not  long  before  the  South  saw  that  it  was  playing" 
a  losing  game.  Ten  Northern  men  to  one  South- 
ern were  going  into  the  Territory. 

The  South  now  tried  another  and  more  desperate 
game.  Right  across  the  Missouri  River  from  Kan- 
sas, lay  the  slave  State  of  Missouri.  In  its  border 
counties  were  organized  bands  of  men  known  as 


56  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

"  border  ruffians."  They  would  try  to  accomplish  by 
force  what  they  could  not  accomplish  lawfully ;  they 
would  invade  the  Territory,  drive  the  free-State 
settlers  from  their  homes,  and  in  some  cases  murder 
them  in  cold  blood.  At  the  time  of  an  election,  the 
Missourians  would  come  over  in  great  numbers, 
drive  honest  voters  away  from  the  polls,  stuff  the 
ballot  boxes,  and  fix  the  returns  to  suit  themselves. 
Pitched  battles  were  fought,  villages  burned,  and 
innocent  men  massacred.  Thus  Kansas  became 
known  as  "Bleeding  Kansas."  But  the  outrages 
were  not  all  on  one  side.  Desperadoes,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  plunder  and  revenge,  would  invade  Mis- 
souri, burn  houses,  destroy  or  carry  off  property, 
and  run  off  slaves.  Thus  on  both  sides  it  was  cruel, 
barbarous  war. 

It  is  strange  that  such  a  warfare  could  continue 
for  years  without  embroiling  the  whole  country. 
But  both  North  and  South  dreaded  what  both  ex- 
pected to  come  sooner  or  later  —  war  between  the 
sections;  and  both  sides  wanted  to  put  off  the  evil 
day  as  long  as  possible.  The  blood  shed  in  Kan- 
sas was  but  the  precursor  of  the  rivers  of  blood 
which  were  to  flow  later  for  the  preservation  of  the 
Union. 

During  all  the  Kansas  trouble,  President  Pierce 
was  a  strong  ally  of  the  South.  He  did  all  in  his 
power  to  make  Kansas  a  slave  State.  He  was 
bound  heart  and  soul  to  the  South,  and  willingly 


A  SCRAP  OF  HISTORY  57 

did  its  bidding.  He  appointed  governor  after  gov- 
ernor of  the  Territory,  but  they  resigned  in  dis- 
gust when  the  National  Government  refused  to 
protect  the  settlers  in  their  honest  rights,  and  up- 
held the  acts  of  the  Missourians. 

It  was  during  the  height  of  this  trouble  that  the 
Rev.  Arthur  Middleton  was  sent  by  an  aid  society 
in  Ohio,  to  administer  religious  consolation  to  the 
settlers  of  the  unhappy  Territory. 


CHAPTER  IV 

JOHN  BROWN 

AS  the  Judge  and  the  Doctor  sat  sipping  their 
toddy,  they  discussed  the  situation. 

"You  must  get  rid  of  that  preacher  as 
soon  as  possible,"  said  the  latter.  "  It  is  but  a  few 
3ays  before  election,  and  the  excitement  instead  of 
subsiding  will  grow  more  intense.  There  is  no  tell- 
ing what  may  happen.  If  Fremont  be  elected  the 
deuce  will  be  to  pay.  I  honestly  think  the  South 
will  try  to  kick  out  of  the  Union,  and  I  can't  blame 
her  much.  Then,  Ketcham  and  his  gang  will  not 
give  up  so  easily.  You  may  look  for  another  visit 
from  them  any  time.  Their  being  fooled  this  time 
will  only  anger  them.  I  wonder  what  it  is  that 
makes  Ketcham  so  anxious  to  hang  Middleton. 
There  must  be  something  that  we  do  not  know." 

"What  you  say,  Doctor,  is  true,"  answered  the 
Judge,  "  except  as  to  the  election  of  Fremont  I  do 
not  think  there  is  any  danger  of  that.  The  South 
will  be  solid  for  Buchanan,  and  enough  Northern 
States  will  go  for  him  to  make  his  election  sure. 
But  as  to  Middleton  and  myself,  there  is  real  dan- 
ger. We  cannot  always  beat  them  off  as  easily  as 
we  did  this  time,  nor  can  I  always  have  Doctor 

58 


JOHN  BROWN  59 

Goodnow  by  my  side.  Doc,  but  for  you  I  might 
have  been  a  dead  man  by  this  time,  and  Middleton 
hanging  to  a  tree." 

"Blast  Middleton!"  exclaimed  the  Doctor.  "  You 
are  worth  ten  thousand  of  him.  That  you  might 
lose  your  life  defending  him  is  not  to  be  thought  of." 

Just  then  there  was  a  tap  at  the  door,  and  Law- 
rence came  into  the  room. 

"  What  is  it,  my  boy  ?  "  asked  the  Judge. 

"Father  says  he  would  like  to  see  you  and  the 
Doctor,  both,"  answered  Lawrence. 

"Very  well.  Tell  him  we  will  be  up  shortly," 
said  the  Judge,  and  then  he  asked  the  Doctor  if  he 
had  noticed  the  boy  by  his  side,  as  he  drove  up. 

"I  did,  and  wondered  that  you  allowed  him  by 
you  at  such  a  time." 

"  I  did  not  know  he  was  there  until  he  plucked  me 
by  the  coat,  and  asked  me  for  a  pistol." 

"A  pistol?  That  beats  me!  Then  he  wanted  to 
help  you  to  fight,  did  he?  " 

"Yes,  he  said  he  wanted  it  to  shoot  Ketcham 
with,  and  pointed  him  out  as  the  man  who  threw 
him  into  the  river." 

"Say,  Judge,  that  boy  is  true  blue.  I  wish  we 
could  ship  the  father,  and  keep  the  boy.  He  not 
only  has  true  grit,  but  he  is  sharp  as  a  tack.  Wanted 
to  shoot  Ketcham,  did  he?  Well,  that  is  a  good 
one ! "  and  the  Doctor  shook  with  laughter. 

"I  am  glad  no  harm  came  to  him,"  said  the 


60  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

Judge.  "  But  we  had  better  go  and  see  what  Mr. 
Middleton  wants." 

"Yes.  I  wonder  if  he  fully  realizes  the  danger 
you  are  running  in  protecting  him." 

The  preacher  greeted  them  warmly  as  they  en- 
tered. "  First,"  said  he,  "  I  want  to  thank  you 
two  for  what  you  have  done  for  me.  Not  satisfied 
with  what  you  had  done,  both  of  you  have  just 
risked  your  lives,  that  mine  might  be  saved.  It  is 
written,  'Greater  love  hath  no  man  than  this,  that 
a  man  lay  down  his  life  for  his  friends/  Surely 
you  found  me  a  stranger  and  took  me  in.  May  the 
choicest  blessings  of  Heaven  rest  upon  you  both." 

"The  Judge  surely  deserves  your  thanks,"  said 
the  Doctor,  "but  I  do  not,  for  I  only  practised  my 
profession.  It  is  a  doctor's  business  to  save  life. 
To  change  the  subject  —  how  is  my  patient  ?  " 

"  Getting  along  nicely.  I  feel  quite  strong,  thanks 
to  you,  Doctor." 

"  Strong  enough  to  travel,  that  is,  to  ride  ?  "  quer- 
ied the  Doctor. 

"Yes;  and  the  reason  I  sent  for  you,  gentlemen, 
is  to  tell  you  I  must  go,  and  go  at  once.  Lawrence 
has  told  me  all  that  has  happened.  I  had  no  idea 
I  was  bringing  such  danger  on  you.  That  you 
should  risk  your  lives  to  save  mine  is  almost  past 
belief.  Why  should  you?  Better  give  me  into  the 
hands  of  the  mob  than  that  you  should  perish.  I 
cannot,  will  not,  subject  you  to  another  such  peril 


JOHN  BROWN  61 

as  you  have  just  passed  through.  I  must  leave 
your  house,  and  at  once.  Judge  Lindsly,  you  I  can 
never  repay.  Doctor,  for  your  kindness  I  can  never 
pay,  but  for  your  professional  services  I  can ;  for,  as 
you  know,  I  have  a  little  money." 

"  Don't  insult  me,"  growled  the  Doctor.  "  But 
what  I  should  like  to  know  is,  why  it  is  that  this 
man  Ketcham  pursues  you  so  vindictively?  " 

"  I  cannot  imagine/'  replied  Mr.  Middleton,  "  un- 
less it  is  that  just  before  I  left  Ohio,  I  received  a 
letter  from  a  friend  saying  he  had  a  brother  most 
foully  murdered  in  Kansas,  and  from  what  he  could 
learn,  he  was  murdered  by  a  man  named  William 
Ketcham.  He  wanted  me  to  look  up  a  few  facts  for 
him,  saying  that  he  himself  would  be  out  in  a  few 
weeks.  That  letter  was  in  the  pocket  of  the  coat 
the  mob  stripped  from  me.  Ketcham  may  have  got 
hold  of  it." 

"Ah!  that  explains  all.  He  imagines  you  are 
here  to  spy  on  him.  Judge,  the  case  is  more  des- 
perate than  I  thought.  Mr.  Middleton  must  be  got 
away,  and  that  to-night.  That  mob  will  come  back 
at  the  first  opportunity.  And  if  they  do,"  continued 
he,  looking  at  Mr.  Middleton  quizzically,  "you  will 
travel  to  heaven  by  the  rope  route,  as  sure  as  you 
are  born." 

The  preacher  was  a  little  shocked  at  the  irrever- 
ence of  the  remark,  but  had  to  admit  its  truth. 

"  One  word  more,  Mr.  Middleton,"  said  the  Doc- 


82  niTll    LYOX  IN  MISSOURI 

tor,  with  a  twinkle  in  his  eye,  "if  we  get  you  to 
Kansas  safe  and  sound,  you  can  report  that  all  Mis- 
sourians  are  not  barbarians,  as  I  reckon  your 
Church  thinks." 

"  I  care  not  what  the  Church  thinks,"  replied  Mr. 
Middleton,  "I  know  if  I  ever  met  any  of  God's 
people,  I  have  met  them  right  here." 

"Better  not  tell  that  to  John  Brown,"  said  the 
Doctor,  with  a  laugh.  "He  preaches  that  any  one 
who  owns  a  slave  is  bound  straight  for  perdition." 

John  Brown !  John  Brown !  The  preacher  winced 
when  he  heard  the  name,  for  he  remembered  that 
when  he  left  Ohio,  he  carried  a  letter  of  introduc- 
tion to  John  Brown.  It  was  in  his  baggage  which 
was  destroyed  when  his  buggy  was  overturned. 
Well  for  the  preacher  that  Ketcham  did  not  get  hold 
of  that.  If  he  had,  nothing  would  have  saved  him. 
Not  for  the  world  would  he  have  the  good  Doctor 
know  he  had  had  such  a  letter,  so  he  contented  him- 
self by  saying,  "I  have  never  met  Brown,  but  I 
have  heard  of  him." 

"You  will  see  him  if  you  are  in  Kansas  long," 
said  the  Doctor.  "  He  thinks  he  has  a  divine  com- 
mission to  smite  the  slaveholders,  even  as  the  He- 
brews smote  the  Canaanites." 

"I  hope  my  troubles  will  be  over  when  I  get  to 
Kansas,"  said  Mr.  Middleton,  wishing  to  change  the 
subject,  as  he  did  not  care  to  discuss  John  Brown. 

"  I  reckon  you  may  have  your  troubles  when  you 


JOHN  BROWN  63 

get  there/'  dryly  remarked  the  Doctor;  "there  are 
safer  places  than  Kansas  just  now;  but  it  is  the 
Judge's  and  my  business  to  see  that  you  get  there/' 

"I  see  that  we  have  wearied  Mr.  Middleton," 
spoke  up  the  Judge.  "  We  had  better  let  him  rest, 
while  we  discuss  ways  and  means  of  getting  him 
away." 

"  I  can  be  ready  at  any  time ;  you  see,  my  baggage 
is  light/'  said  the  preacher. 

"  We  will  get  you  away  to-night,  just  what  time 
I  can't  say  yet.  Rest  easy  until  we  call  for  you." 

"Are  we  really  to  go  to  Kansas?"  asked  Law- 
rence after  the  Judge  and  the  Doctor  had  with- 
drawn. 

"  Yes,  my  boy,  and  I  trust  that  our  trials  will  soon 
be  over."  Little  did  he  think  what  would  happen 
before  he  had  been  in  Kansas  many  days ;  and  little 
did  he  think  what  would  happen  even  before  he 
started. 

The  Doctor  and  the  Judge  were  soon  in  a  deep 
discussion  as  to  the  best  means  of  getting  Mr.  Mid- 
dleton away. 

"  What  he  said  about  that  letter,"  said  the  Doctor, 
"  worries  me.  I  know  Bill  Ketcham,  and  I  know 
he  will  never  let  up  until  he  has  the  preacher  in 
his  power.  He  pretends  it  was  in  one  of  the  rows 
that  he  killed  the  man,  and  that  he  shot  him  in  self- 
defence.  But  the  fact  is,  he  shot  the  fellow  in 
cold  blood  to  get  his  horse,  which  was  a  very  fine 


64  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

one.  He  would  have  swung  for  it  long  ago,  if  it 
had  not  been  for  the  disturbed  condition  of  the  coun- 
try. Finding  that  letter  has  scared  him." 

"Then  you  think  he  will  strike  again  soon? "said 
the  Judge. 

"Yes,  and  if  I  mistake  not,  before  morning. 
Judge,  there  are  but  two  ways  for  you  to  act :  one 
is  to  rally  your  neighbors,  and  give  Ketcham  and 
his  gang  a  warm  reception  when  they  come;  the 
other  is  to  get  the  preacher  and  the  boy  out  of  the 
house  and  away,  so  that  when  the  gang  do  come, 
you  can  let  them  search  the  house  and  premises  to 
their  hearts'  content.  They  will  not  dare  touch  you 
if  you  make  no  resistance." 

"It  must  be  the  last  plan,"  said  the  Judge.  "I 
can  never  consent  to  the  slaughter  of  my  neighbors." 

"Then,"  continued  the  Doctor,  "let's  see.  I 
have  it.  No  doubt  there  are  spies  watching  the 
house  this  minute.  As  soon  as  it  is  dark,  slip  the 
preacher  and  the  boy  out  of  the  back  door.  Let 
them  go  down  the  lane  back  of  the  negro  quarters, 
until  they  come  to  that  big  walnut  tree.  I  will  meet 
them  there,  with  two  good  saddle  horses.  Then  by 
little-used  roads  that  I  know  well,  I  will  get  them  to 
the  river.  Once  there,  Abe  Dilloh  will  put  them 
across  for  me,  and  no  questions  asked." 

"The  plan  is  a  good  one,  Doc,"  said  the  Judge, 
"and  I  will  see  it  is  followed  to  the  letter.  I  shall 
breathe  easier  when  they  are  gone." 


JOHN  BROWN  65 

Just  then  a  man  came  riding  up  to  the  house  on 
a  reeking  horse,  and  asked  if  Doc  Goodnow  was 
there. 

The  Doctor  answered  in  person. 

"Doc,  you  air  wanted,  and  wanted  quick.  Pete 
Shockley  has  shot  himself  foolin'  with  an  ole  re- 
volver, an'  he  is  bad." 

"This  is  unfortunate/'  said  the  Doctor  in  a  low 
voice  to  the  Judge.  "  I  shall  have  to  go,  and  I  may 
not  get  back  as  soon  as  expected.  But  have  the 
preacher  and  the  boy  at  the  rendezvous  at  the  time 
set.  Don't  keep  them  in  the  house  a  moment  after 
dark.  Tell  them  to  wait  until  I  come."  Thus  say- 
ing, the  Doctor  got  into  his  gig  and  rapidly  drove 
away. 

Hardly  had  he  gone,  when  another  messenger 
came  inquiring  for  the  Doctor.  This  time  it  was 
Jim  Shephard  who  had  been  taken  violently  ill,  and 
who  wanted  his  services.  The  messenger  looked 
much  disappointed  when  told  the  Doctor  had  just 
been  called  away.  The  Judge  did  not  like  this  man's 
actions.  He  seemed  in  no  hurry  to  go,  and  was  very 
inquisitive.  At  last  he  rode  slowly  away. 

"I  believe  that  last  messenger  was  a  fake,"  said 
the  Judge, — "  a  plan  to  get  the  Doctor  away  from 
here." 

But  night  came,  and  no  sooner  had  darkness 
fallen,  than  Mr.  Middleton  and  Lawrence,  under 
the  guidance  of  old  Jo,  slipped  from  the  house.  Mr. 


66  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

Middleton  was  still  quite  weak  and  very  lame,  his 
mangled  feet  having  not  entirely  healed  yet,  but  in 
due  time  they  reached  the  walnut;  and  there,  after 
giving  them  many  warnings  Jo  left  them. 

The  hours  slipped  by,  and  midnight  came,  and 
still  no  Doctor;  and  from  the  house  there  came  no 
alarm. 

When  Ketcham  and  his  gang  were  well  away 
from  the  scene  of  their  defeat,  they  halted  for  a 
conference.  They  were  wild  with  rage,  and  ready 
for  any  desperate  deed. 

"  Boys,  when  this  is  known,"  exclaimed  Ketcham, 
with  a  great  oath,  "  we  will  be  the  laughingstock  of 
the  community.  Twenty  of  us  put  to  flight  by  two 
men!" 

"On  the  other  hand,  if  we  had  killed  the  Judge 
and  the  Doctor,  the  country  would  have  been  too 
hot  to  hold  us,"  spoke  up  one. 

"  You  are  right,  Tom,"  answered  Ketcham,  "  but 
I  will  not  be  balked.  Now,  what  is  the  best  to 
do?" 

After  several  of  the  gang  had  suggested  this  and 
that,  Ketcham  suddenly  slapped  his  thigh,  and  said, 
"  I  have  it,  boys." 

"What  is  it,  Bill?  What  is  it?"  they  cried  all 
at  once. 

"  First,  we  must  get  that  Doctor  away.  We  will 
send  a  messenger  for  him.  Some  one  is  very  sick. 
Must  have  his  services  at  once.  That  will  leave  only 


JOHN  BROWN  67 

the  Judge.  He  will  hardly  expect  us  back  to-night. 
We  will  wait  until  about  midnight,  then  disguise 
ourselves  as  raiders  from  Kansas,  and  demand  ad- 
mittance in  the  name  of  John  Brown.  The  Judge 
will  not  fool  with  Brown,  he  knows  his  reputation 
too  well.  Once  in  the  house,  the  rest  is  easy." 

"  Capital,  Bill,  capital !  You  ought  to  be  a  gen- 
eral," was  the  unanimous  verdict. 

First  the  messenger  was  sent  to  lure  away  the 
Doctor.  One  of  the  gang  was  to  go  home,  and  be 
taken  violently  sick.  "  Don't  worry,  boys,"  he  said. 
"  I  will  be  the  sickest  man  you  ever  saw,  and  keep 
the  Doctor  all  night." 

So  the  messenger  was  sent,  but  after  a  while  he 
returned  with  the  information  that  the  Doctor  had 
already  been  called  away. 

"That  is  just  as  well,  even  better,  for  he  might 
have  discovered  that  Jim  was  faking,"  said  Ketcham. 

The  gang  waited  until  about  midnight,  then  dis- 
guised as  Kansas  raiders,  rode  boldly  up  to  the  resi- 
dence of  Judge  Lindsly.  The  house  was  dark,  and 
as  far  as  appearances  went,  its  inmates  were  asleep. 

Ketcham  thundered  at  the  door.  "Who  is 
there?"  asked  the  Judge,  after  a  decent  interval. 

"John  Brown.  Open  quick,  or  it  will  be  the 
worse  for  you." 

The  Judge  was  astounded  at  the  answer,  but 
guessed  rightly  that  it  was  Ketcham  and  his  men, 
personating  a  raiding  party  from  Kansas.  But  be- 


68  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

fore  he  could  unfasten  the  door,  three  or  four  shots 
were  heard,  then  a  rapid  fusillade,  and  shouts  of 
angry  men. 

Ketcham  was  as  astounded  as  the  Judge,  as  to 
the  meaning  of  the  firing.  He  jumped  from  the 
porch  just  in  time  to  hear  one  of  his  men  call  out 
he  was  wounded,  and  Ketcham  became  aware  he 
was  being  attacked  by  a  large  party. 

"Back,  men,  back!"  he  shouted.  "The  Judge 
has  ambushed  us.  Damn  him !  he  will  pay  for  this." 

It  was  but  a  moment  before  the  gang  were  in 
full  retreat,  leaving  one  of  their  number  wounded 
and  another  dead  upon  the  field. 

Not  only  the  house,  but  the  whole  plantation,  was 
in  an  uproar.  The  negroes  were  crouching  in  their 
cabins  panic-stricken.  What  did  that  sudden  fight 
mean?  The  Judge  was  at  a  loss  to  know;  but  he 
had  little  time  to  consider,  for  there  came  another 
thunderous  rap  at  the  door,  and  then  it  was  burst 
in  without  ceremony,  and  a  tall  man  with  grizzly 
hair  and  deep-set  eyes  stalked  into  the  room. 

"Who  lives  here?"  he  asked  in  a  commanding 
tone. 

"I  do,"  said  the  Judge,  "and  I  should  like  to 
know  what  this  midnight  attack  means." 

"  It  was  you  that  attacked,  not  I,"  answered  the 
man,  "  and  you  shall  pay  for  it.  We  do  not  murder 
old  men,  women,  or  children,  but  out  of  the  house, 
for  I  shall  order  it  to  be  fired  immediately." 


JOHN  BROWN  69 

"  Who  are  you,  that  you  dare  do  this  ?  "  asked  the 
Judge  indignantly. 

"  I  am  John  Brown,"  thundered  the  man.  "  No 
words !  You  and  your  family  out  of  this  house  at 
once  or  I  will  burn  it  over  your  heads." 

But  just  at  this  time  there  was  an  interruption; 
the  Doctor  rushed  in,  and  a  moment  later  Mr.  Mid- 
dleton  came  limping  into  the  room.  "The  Doctor  had 
arrived  at  the  place  of  rendezvous  for  Mr.  Middle- 
ton,  just  as  the  firing  commenced.  He  was  startled. 
"  Middleton,  there  is  trouble  there.  I  must  see  what 
it  is  before  we  start,"  said  he. 

"And  I  go  with  you,"  cried  the  preacher.  "If 
Judge  Lindsly  is  in  danger,  my  place  is  by  your 
side.  Give  me  a  weapon." 

There  was  no  time  to  parley.  Bidding  Lawrence 
stay  where  he  was,  Mr.  Middleton  was  helped  on 
one  of  the  horses  the  Doctor  had  brought,  and  the 
two  rode  rapidly  to  the  house.  They  found  the  ser- 
vants fleeing  through  the  back  door,  screaming  that 
Massa  Lindsly  was  being  murdered. 

The  Judge  noticed  that  the  Doctor  had  his  re- 
volver in  his  hand,  and  called  out,  "Doctor,  don't 
shoot.  This  is  John  Brown,  and  we  are  in  his 
power.  To  resist  is  instant  death." 

By  this  time  several  of  Brown's  men  were  in  the 
room,  covering  the  inmates  with  their  guns. 

"  Disarm  them,  see  that  every  one  is  out  of  the 
house,  and  fire  it,"  said  Brown. 


70  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

"Hold,  for  the  love  of  God,"  cried  Mr.  Middle- 
ton.  All  eyes  were  turned  on  him. 

"You  are  John  Brown?"  he  asked  of  that  per- 
sonage. 

"I  am,"  was  the  answer,  "and  who  are  you  who 
call  on  the  name  of  the  Lord  ?  " 

"  I  am  the  Reverend  Arthur  Middleton  of  Ohio. 
I  had  a  letter  of  introduction  to  you,  but  have  lost  it." 

"I  received  a  letter  from  an  aid  society,"  said 
Brown,  "  saying  that  a  Reverend  Arthur  Middleton 
was  coming.  But  if  you  are  he,  how  did  you  come 
to  be  in  this  nest  of  the  sons  of  Belial  ?  " 

"I  fell  among  thieves,"  said  Mr.  Middleton. 
"  This  gentleman,"  pointing  to  Judge  Lindsly,  "  took 
me  in,  bound  up  my  wounds,  protected  me  at  the 
risk  of  his  own  life.  And  this  man,"  pointing  to 
the  Doctor,  "  is  the  physician  who  attended  me  and 
also  helped  protect  me  from  the  mob.  John  Brown, 
I  have  heard  the  order  you  gave  to  burn  this  house. 
Do  it,  and  I  will  denounce  you  to  the  world,  to  the 
aid  societies;  I  will  make  your  name  a  hiss  and  a 
byword." 

"  If  all  you  say  is  true,"  said  Brown,  "  I  do  not 
understand  why  I  was  attacked  here.  But  last  night, 
one  William  Ketcham  and  his  gang  invaded  Kan- 
sas. By  the  grace  of  God,  they  were  driven  back, 
but  we  have  suffered  much  at  the  hands  of  Ketcham 
and  his  men,  so  we  followed  them  up,  hoping  to  take 
them  unawares  and  wipe  them  from  the  face  of  the 


JOHN  BROWN  71 

earth,  but  here  we  ran  into  a  force  of  armed  men. 
What  does  it  mean?" 

"In  all  probability/'  answered  Mr.  Middleton, 
"you  ran  into  Ketcham  and  his  gang,  who  came 
here  for  the  express  purpose  of  lynching  me." 

"This  must  be  thoroughly  looked  into/'  said 
Brown,  "but  first  we  must  attend  to  the  wounded. 
I  believe  you  said  this  man  was  a  doctor,"  pointing 
to  Goodnow. 

"Yes,  and  one  of  God's  own  noblemen,"  answered 
Mr.  Middleton. 

It  was  found  that  only  one  of  Brown's  party  had 
been  hit,  shot  through  the  thigh.  He  was  brought 
in,  and  Dr.  Goodnow  after  a  short  examination, 
said,  "No  bones  broken,  we  will  soon  fix  him." 
And  he  deftly  bound  up  the  wound. 

Another  wounded  man  was  now  brought  in,  who 
was  groaning  bitterly,  and  seemed  to  be  badly  hit, 
—  and  what  they  thought  strange, —  there  was  a 
mask  over  his  face.  Doctor  Goodnow  removed  it, 
and  started  back  in  surprise.  "  Jerry  Henshawe,  as 
I  live !  "  he  exclaimed. 

The  man  opened  his  eyes  and  said,  "  Oh,  Doctor, 
save  me  if  you  can!  Why  did  I  ever  listen  to 
Ketcham  ?  Why  did  I  ever  come  here  ?  " 

The  Doctor  examined  him  carefully.  "Jerry,  you 
are  bad  hit,  but  you  are  not  going  to  die.  Keep  a 
stiff  upper  lip ;  I  will  pull  you  through." 

Another  of  Ketcham's  men  was  now  brought  in 


72  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

a  prisoner.  He  hung  his  head  in  shame,  for  the 
prisoner  was  Dryden,  the  man  who  had  brought  to 
the  Judge  the  news  of  the  tarring  and  feathering  of 
Mr.  Middleton. 

"  You  are  a  nice  fellow !  "  said  the  Doctor.  "  No 
wonder  you  look  like  a  sheep-killing  dog.  So  you 
thought  you  would  sail  under  the  colors  of  John 
Brown.  Well,  here  is  the  real  John  Brown,  and  I 
reckon  you  had  better  be  turned  over  to  his  tender 
mercies/' 

Dryden  turned  pale.  "Don't  do  that,  Doctor," 
he  pleaded. 

"  Perhaps  I  can't  help  myself.  Mr.  Brown  seems 
to  be  in  command  just  now." 

"  Owing  to  the  representations  of  Mr.  Middle- 
ton,"  said  Brown,  "I  shall  leave  this  house  and  all 
in  it  untouched;  but  I  shall  have  to  request  the 
loan  of  a  horse  to  convey  my  wounded  comrade  back 
to  the  river.  And  you?"  he  said,  looking  at  Mr. 
Middleton. 

"  I  shall  be  pleased  to  go  with  you,"  he  promptly 
replied.  "  It  will  relieve  the  Judge  of  a  guest  that 
has  caused  him  both  much  trouble  and  danger,  and 
it  will  save  the  Doctor  that  contemplated  journey  to 
the  river." 

"A  splendid  way  out  of  the  difficulty,"  said  the 
Judge;  "but  where  is  the  boy?" 

"Great   Scott!  we   forgot   him,"  ejaculated   the 


JOHN  BROWN  73 

Doctor.  "  We  left  him  by  the  walnut  tree.  I  will 
go  and  get  him." 

"  Send  a  servant,"  said  the  Judge.  But  the  Doc- 
tor was  already  away.  Soon  he  returned  with  Law- 
rence, who  had  remained  by  the  tree,  although 
greatly  distressed  over  the  absence  of  his  father. 

It  was  arranged  that  the  wounded  man  was  to 
have  one  of  the  horses  which  the  Doctor  had 
brought,  and  Mr.  Middleton  the  other.  "You  can 
turn  them  loose  when  you  get  to  the  river;  that  is, 
if  you  will,"  putting  a  heavy  emphasis  on  the  "if 
you  will." 

John  Brown  frowned.  "You  will  get  your 
horses.  That  is  more  than  I  can  say  of  your 
Missourians  who  came  over  into  Kansas." 

"  Look  here,  John  Brown,"  replied  the  unabashed 
Doctor,  "  You  are  doing  us  a  good  turn  to-night  by 
taking  this  blame  preacher  who  has  given  us  so 
much  trouble,  with  you.  But  I  don't  like  you  or 
your  methods ;  and  if  I  ever  catch  you  on  Missouri 
soil  again,  I  will  hang  you  if  I  can,  so  help  me !  " 

John  Brown  smiled  grimly.  "  Do  you  know,"  he 
said,  "  I  have  but  to  say  the  word,  and  you  will 
hang  now." 

"  Not  while  I  have  this,"  retorted  the  Doctor,  and 
quick  as  thought  he  whipped  out  a  revolver, 
and  covered  Brown.  "A  move  —  an  order  —  a 
sign,  and  you  are  a  dead  man." 


74  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

Not  a  sign  of  fear  did  Brown  show.  He  looked 
at  the  Doctor  a  moment.  "I  am  not  afraid  of  death, 
my  friend,"  he  replied  coolly,  "  and  my  death  would 
be  but  a  signal  for  your  own.  I  like  a  brave  man. 
Have  I  not  said  no  one  in  this  house  should  be 
harmed  ?  You  have  simply  acted  foolishly,  not  like 
the  brave  man  you  are.  Put  up  your  gun." 

"Sensible  advice,"  remarked  the  Doctor,  as  he 
put  the  pistol  back  in  his  pocket.  "John  Brown,  I 
rather  like  you,  blamed  if  I  don't ;  and  now,  let  me 
give  you  a  little  advice.  Be  careful,  or  your  fanati- 
cism will  hang  you  some  day.  You  are  of  the  stuff 
of  which  martyrs  are  made." 

"As  God  wills,"  answered  Brown;  "but  as  long 
as  I  live  my  arm  will  be  raised  in  the  cause  of  the 
oppressed." 

Hurried  preparations  were  now  made  by  Brown 
for  the  return  to  the  river.  "  We  have  already  lin- 
gered too  long,"  he  said,  "  and  attempt  may  be  made 
to  cut  us  off." 

"  Not  from  here,"  replied  the  Judge,  "  as  for  us, 
you  go  in  peace." 

Mr.  Middleton  and  Lawrence  once  more  bade 
good-bye  to  those  who  had  proven  such  friends. 

"Hurry  up,"  cried  the  hoarse  voice  'of  John 
Brown,  and  the  little  party  was  swallowed  up  in 
the  darkness. 

"  Thank  God,  they  are  gone ! "  exclaimed  the 
Judge. 


JOHN  BROWN  75 

"  And  the  best  way  they  could  have  gone,  for  us," 
replied  the  Doctor.  "  Judge,  we  are  not  so  popular 
with  our  neighbors  as  we  were,  but  I  can't  say  I 
am  sorry  for  what  we  have  done.  But  the  Lord 
save  us  from  any  more  preachers  and  from  John 
Brown.  Yet  it  was  a  fortunate  thing  for  you  Brown 


came." 


"  When  we  get  things  settled/'  said  the  Judge, 
"you  and  I  must  have  a  talk,  but  let  us  attend  to 
the  dead  and  wounded  first.  And,  by  the  way,  tell 
Dryden  to  stay,  I  wish  to  speak  to  him.  Tell  him 
no  harm  will  come  to  him." 

After  all  had  been  done  for  the  dead  and  wounded 
that  could  be  done,  the  Judge  and  the  Doctor  held  a 
long  talk,  and  then  called  in  Dryden. 

"Dryden,"  said  the  Judge,  "The  Doctor  and  I 
have  agreed  that  the  less  talk  about  this  affair  the 
better.  Tell  Ketcham  and  the  rest  of  the  boys  that, 
as  far  as  we  are  concerned,  nothing  will  be  said  of 
the  attempted  lynching.  The  preacher  who  caused 
all  the  trouble  is  gone.  The  poor  fellow  who  lies 
dead  here  was  killed  by  the  Kansas  raiders.  Your 
fight  here  was  with  them.  Let  this  be  known,  and 
those  not  knowing  the  full  facts  will  not  suspect 
that  you  really  came  to  attack  my  house,  and  that 
the  meeting  with  John  Brown  and  his  gang  was 
accidental." 

'  "  If  Ketcham  and  the  rest  of  the  boys  do  not  fall 
in  with  that  idea,  they  are  fools,"  answered  Dryden. 


76  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

"Well,  that  is  all,  Dryden,"  said  the  Judge,  "you 
can  go  now." 

That  Ketcham  and  the  boys  did  fall  in  with  this 
idea  became  evident,  for  before  the  next  day  was 
over,  the  report  was  all  over  the  county,  of  John 
Brown's  raid,  and  how  Ketcham  and  his  party  met 
them  at  Judge  Lindsly's  and  after  a  severe  fight 
drove  them  away,  thus  saving  the  Judge's  property 
from  destruction.  The  Judge  and  the  Doctor  smiled 
when  they  heard  the  report,  but  said  nothing. 

As  for  Ketcham,  there  was  still  fear  in  his  heart, 
for  the  preacher  had  escaped,  and  the  brother  of  his 
murdered  victim  was  coming.  But  why  should  he 
let  the  preacher  escape  ?  He  could  easily  follow  him 
to  Kansas.  The  election  was  the  coming  week. 
Kansas  would  be  invaded  by  hundreds  of  Missou- 
rians.  There  would  be  riots,  fights,  men  would  be 
killed.  He  would  make  it  his  business  to  locate  the 
preacher,  and  then  —  he  smiled  a  wicked  smile,  as  he 
thought  of  "then." 


CHAPTER  V 

WHAT  A  DAY  BROUGHT  FORTH 

JOHN  BROWN  and  his  men  lost  no  time  in  get- 
ting back  to  the  river.  Extra  precaution  had 
to  be  taken  to  guard  against  surprise.  Once 
they  were  fired  upon  from  ambush,  but  without  in- 
jury. Three  hours'  hard  marching  brought  them 
to  the  river.  The  ride  was  a  hard  one  for  Mr.  Mid- 
dleton,  and  the  sight  of  the  muddy  water  of  the 
Missouri  was  welcome. 

As  they  were  about  to  cross  the  river,  to  his  sur- 
prise he  found  that  George  was  with  them.  It  will 
be  remembered  that  George  was  one  of  the  negroes 
who  went  with  Lawrence  to  get  his  father,  and 
who  had  spoken  of  John  Brown.  He  was  a  very 
intelligent  negro,  and  had  taken  a  great  fancy  to 
Lawrence.  When  Mr.  Middleton  discovered  his 
presence,  he  was  filled  with  dismay.  Would  Judge 
Lindsly  think  he  had  anything  to  do  with  enticing 
him  away?  He  begged  John  Brown  to  send  him 
back  with  the  horses,  but  Brown  was  obdurate. 

"But  you  promised  Judge  Lindsly  that  nothing 
should  be  disturbed  on  his  plantation/'  urged  Mr. 
Middleton. 

"  So  I  did/'  replied  Brown,  "  and  I  had  nothing 
to  do  with  this  man's  coming.  He  came  of  his  own 

77 


78  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

accord.  Never  will  I  be  guilty  of  the  great  sin  of 
sending  a  human  being  back  into  slavery.  I  am  sur- 
prised that  you,  of  all  men,  should  ask  it." 

So  the  horses  were  turned  loose,  to  find  their  way 
back,  and  George  accompanied  the  party.  Day  was 
just  breaking  as  they  crossed  the  river.  Mr.  Mid- 
dleton  turned  and  looked  back  over  the  State  where 
he  had  suffered  so  much,  and  where  he  had  been 
treated  so  kindly  by  those  who  were  naturally  his 
enemies.  A  bank  of  clouds  lay  in  the  east,  and  the 
sun's  rays  were  painting  them  in  all  the  colors  of 
the  rainbow.  Soon  the  whole  Missouri  side  was 
spread  out  in  all  its  beauty  before  him.  It  was  a 
glorious  country.  Waving  forests,  fruitful  fields, 
orchards  bending  with  golden  fruit,  met  his  eye. 
And  as  he  looked,  he  gave  a  great  sigh.  How 
could  so  fair  a  land  be  cursed  with  slavery? 

He  turned  his  eyes  westward.  Beyond  him,  as 
far  as  the  eye  could  reach,  lay  the  rolling  prairies 
of  Kansas.  He  could  trace  the  course  of  murmur- 
ing streams,  their  banks  fringed  with  trees  gorgeous 
in  their  Autumn  dress  of  red  and  gold.  This  was 
Kansas.  This  was  to  be  his  home.  Here  was 
where  he  was  to  feed  starving  souls  with  the  bread 
of  life,  and  to  fight  that  humanity  might  be  free. 

"This  is  Kansas,  my  son,"  said  he  gently  to 
Lawrence.  "Here  will  we  find  rest;  here  will  I 
find  work  for  the  Master.  Let  us  kneel  down  and 


WHAT  A  DAY  BROUGHT  FORTH  79 

thank  the  Lord,  that  through  many  dangers  at  last 
He  has  brought  us  here/' 

Father  and  son  knelt,  and  Mr.  Middleton  poured 
out  his  heart  in  gratitude  to  God.  In  mercy,  the 
events  of  the  next  few  days  were  hidden  from  his 
eyes. 

Mr.  Middleton  found  a  temporary  home  with  a 
Mr.  Harmon,  whose  claim  lay  some  fifteen  miles 
back  from  the  river.  He  was  received  with  joy  by 
the  settlers;  now  they  could  hear  the  gospel 
preached.  As  for  George,  he  could  not  be  induced 
to  leave  them.  "  No,"  he  would  say,  "  I  can't  leave 
yo'ng  Massa  Lawrence;  he  needs  George  to  look 
after  him/'  So  he  stayed,  but  to  Mr.  Middleton  he 
was  ever  a  constant  reproach.  It  was  through  none 
of  his  doings  that  Judge  Lindsly  had  lost  his  slave. 
Should  he  not  write  to  Judge  Lindsly,  and  tell  him 
where  George  was,  so  that  he  could  take  measures 
to  get  him  back?  It  was  a  fierce  battle  he  fought 
with  conscience.  To  send  a  human  being  back  into 
slavery,  or  to  withhold  information  from  the  man 
who  saved  his  life;  these  were  the  questions  which 
racked  his  soul.  He  never  decided  them.  It  is  prob- 
lematical how  he  would  have  decided  if  he  had  lived. 

As  for  Ketcham,  he  was  busy  with  his  plans,  how 
to  find  and  make  away  with  Mr.  Middleton.  He 
went  to  consult  with  his  companion  in  crime,  Robert 
Travers. 


80  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

"Bob,  I  believe  I  have  that  little  killing  scrape 
all  fixed/'  he  said,  "if  we  can  only  find  and  make 
away  with  the  preacher." 

"  I  can  make  away  with  men  in  a  fight,"  answered 
Travers,  "but,  to  tell  the  truth,  I  hate  this  cold- 
blooded business.  What  excuse  can  you  make  for 
killing  the  preacher,  if  you  find  him?" 

"  This :  You  know  Judge  Lindsly's  nigger  George 
ran  away  at  the  time  he  left.  The  preacher  is  a 
nigger-stealer.  How  do  Missourians  serve  horse- 
thieves  and  nigger-thieves?  We  have  to  go  over 
into  Kansas  on  election  day,  anyway,  to  show  them 
how  to  vote.  Once  locate  the  preacher,  and  it's 
easy.  Bob,  you  were  with  me  in  that  scrape.  You 
have  something  at  stake,  too." 

"  I  know  I  have ;  but  even  if  we  get  the  preacher 
out  of  the  way,  how  about  that  brother  that  's  com- 
ing?" 

"  I  have  thought  that  all  out,"  answered  Ketcham. 
"  I  have  that  letter  the  brother  wrote,  name,  ad- 
dress, and  all.  With  the  preacher  out  of  the  way, 
I  will  write  to  Canfield,  as  a  friend  of  the  preacher, 
saying  that  before  he  died,  he  told  me  of  the  case, 
and  requested  me  to  look  into  it;  that  I  have  done 
so  thoroughly,  and  find  that  Ketcham  has  left 
the  country,  and  can  not  be  located,  therefore  it 
would  be  a  waste  of  time  and  money  for  him  to 
come.  How  is  that  ?  " 


WHAT  A  DAY  BROUGHT  FORTH  81 

"Fine,  Bill,  fine!  you  have  a  head  on  you.  I 
would  never  have  thought  of  it.  I  am  with  you." 

"Good!  We  will  put  five  or  six  of  the  other 
boys  on,  those  we  can  trust,  and  we  will  look  after 
the  preacher,  while  the  others  do  the  voting." 

"But  we  must  locate  him  first,"  urged  Travers. 

"  Sure.  And  how  will  Nat  White  do  to  send  as 
a  spy  to  find  out  where  he  puts  up?  Nat  can  pass 
for  a  Yankee,  any  day/' 

"  The  very  thing.  Nat  will  locate  him  if  any 
one  can." 

Nat  was  found,  and  willingly  accepted  the  job. 
Dark  clouds  were  gathering  around  Mr.  Middleton, 
and  death  was  in  the  air,  but  he  knew  it  not. 

By  election  day,  there  were  hundreds  of  Missou- 
rians  on  Kansas  soil.  The  settlers  were  driven  from 
the  polls  in  many  places,  and  the  ballot  boxes  stuffed. 
In  some  places  the  Missourians  contented  themselves 
by  declaring  themselves  legal  voters,  and  they  voted, 
and  voted  often.  The  few  settlers  saw  it  would  be 
madness  to  try  to  protect  themselves,  and  in  most 
cases  they  sullenly  submitted.  There  were  but  few 
voters  in  the  township  in  which  Mr.  Middleton  was, 
and  the  settlers  were  in  hopes  they  might  escape.  A 
few  urged  Mr.  Middleton  to  go  and  vote. 

"  Why,  I  have  not  been  in  the  territory  a  week ! " 
he  exclaimed,  astonished  that  any  one  should  ask 
him  to  do  such  an  unlawful  act. 


82  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

One  of  the  men  laughed,  as  he  said :  "  Oh !  every- 
body votes  in  Kansas;  even  the  cats  and  dogs  are 
counted." 

Mr.  Middleton  pondered.  Evidently  the  illegal 
voting  was  not  all  on  one  side,  but  he  firmly  refused 
to  have  anything  to  do  with  it. 

George  had  never  seen  an  election,  and  decided  to 
go.  Thus  Mr.  Middleton  was  left  alone  with  the 
women. 

The  revolver  which  Doctor  Goodnow  had  given 
him  when  they  rushed,  as  they  supposed,  to  the  res- 
cue of  Judge  Lindsly,  the  Doctor  had  bidden  him 
keep,  saying  that  he  might  find  use  for  it,  even  in 
Kansas.  But  Mr.  Middleton  thought  it  ill  became  a 
minister  to  go  armed;  and  when  he  arrived  at  Mr. 
Harmon's  was  about  to  lay  it  away,  but  Lawrence 
begged  that  he  might  take  it  and  learn  to  fire  it. 

"It  will  do  the  boy  no  harm,"  said  Mr.  Harmon; 
and  so  the  father  consented,  and  Lawrence  had  prac- 
tised with  it  four  or  five  times. 

It  was  an  anxious  day  for  the  women  at  home. 
They  knew  too  well  what  an  election  day  meant  in 
Kansas.  But  the  afternoon  came,  and  so  far  there 
had  been  no  alarm,  and  the  settlers  began  to  hope 
they  would  escape,  when  suddenly  a  company  of 
Missourians  swept  down  upon  them.  There  were 
so  many,  it  would  have  been  madness  to  resist. 
With  jest  and  oath,  the  Missourians  proceeded  to 
empty  the  ballot  box  of  the  votes  which  were  in  it 


WHAT  A  DAY  BROUGHT  FORTH  83 

and  stuff  it  with  their  own.  Then  they  gravely 
counted  the  ballots,  and  announced  the  result  as  so 
and  so. 

When  the  Missourians  were  seen  coming,  George 
ran  in  terror;  but  it  was  noticed  that  some  half- 
dozen  of  the  party  broke  off  from  the  main  body 
and  did  not  stop  to  interfere  with  the  election,  but 
rode  straight  on.  They  soon  overtook  George ;  and 
the  leader,  who  was  Ketcham,  yelled:  "Boys,  we 
are  in  luck.  There  is  Judge  Lindsly's  nigger  that 
the  preacher  run  off  with.  A  nice  little  sum  we  will 
get  for  taking  him  back."  Giving  George  in  charge 
of  one  of  the  men,  he  exclaimed :  "  Boys,  we  have 
the  nigger ;  now  for  the  nigger-thief.  We  will  give 
him  a  taste  of  Missouri  justice."  And  with  a 
whoop  and  hurrah  they  galloped  on. 

Well  had  Nat  White,  Ketcham's  spy,  done  his 
duty.  Ketcham  knew  just  where  to  find  Mr.  Mid- 
dleton.  Before  they  reached  the  sod  abode  of  Mr. 
Harmon,  they  made  a  detour  around,  so  as  to  come 
up  in  the  rear. 

It  was  a  complete  surprise.  Mr.  Middleton  was 
out  in  the  yard,  and  he  was  in  the  hands  of  his 
enemies  before  he  could  raise  a  finger  to  resist. 

The  women  began  to  scream,  but  they  were  told 
to  shut  up,  or  the  house  would  be  burned  over  their 
heads. 

"  Come,  boys,  some  one  bring  a  rope ! "  shouted 
Ketcham.  "  Let  's  do  this  work  quick.  Here  is  a 


84  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

good  place,"  pointing  to  a  pole  which  projected  from 
the  roof  of  the  stable. 

The  rope  was  brought,  and  thrown  over  the  head 
of  their  victim,  and  they  were  on  the  point  of  drag- 
ging him  to  the  place  of  execution,  when  one  of 
their  number  gave  a  startled  cry.  Looking  up,  they 
saw  John  Brown  at  the  head  of  half  a  dozen  men, 
bearing  down  on  them. 

"The  sword  of  the  Lord  and  of  Gideon!" 
shouted  Brown,  as  he  flourished  an  old  sabre  above 
his  head,  and  came  down  on  them  like  a  thunderbolt. 

With  yells  of  terror,  the  Missourians  sprang  for 
their  horses,  and  with  whip  and  spur  urged  them  to 
their  highest  speed. 

Ketcham  lingered  a  moment  too  long.  "  Hell  and 
furies!  you  shall  not  escape/'  he  yelled;  and  snatch- 
ing a  pistol  from  his  belt,  he  pressed  the  muzzle 
against  the  breast  of  Mr.  Middleton,  fired,  and 
turned  to  flee.  But  as  he  turned  there  was  a  report 
of  another  pistol,  and  he  fell  doubled  up  in  a  heap. 

The  smoking  revolver  dropped  from  the  hand  of 
Lawrence,  for  it  was  he  who  fired  the  shot,  and  with 
a  cry  of  anguish,  he  flung  himself  on  the  body  of 
his  father.  To  him  the  dead  raider  was  nothing. 
He  hardly  realized  what  he  had  done.  He  only  felt 
that  his  father  was  dead  or  dying. 

"Father!  Father!  speak  to  me/'  he  cried  in 
piteous  accents.  "  It 's  I;  it 's  Lawrence/' 

The  dying  man  opened  his  eyes,  saw  Lawrence 


As  he  turned  there  was  a  report  of  another  pistol 


WHAT  A  DAY  BROUGHT  FORTH  85 

bending  over  him,  smiled,  and  feebly  raised  his 
arms  as  if  to  embrace  him.  The  blood  was  welling 
up  from  a  great  wound  in  the  breast. 

Kind  hands  picked  him  up,  carried  him  into  the 
house,  and  placed  him  on  a  bed.  They  tried  to  ex- 
amine the  wound ;  but  he  whispered,  "  No,  you  can 
do  no  good.  I  have  but  a  short  time  to  live.  Leave 
me  alone  with  my  son.  I  must  speak  to  him  before 
I  die.  I  have  that  which  I  must  say  to  him." 

Softly,  and  with  bowed  heads,  all  went  out,  and 
left  father  and  son  alone. 


CHAPTER  VI 

THE  DYING  REQUEST 

U^\  /f  Y  poor  boy/'  faintly  said  Mr.  Middleton, 

I  Y  J  "  listen  closely  to  what  I  have  to  say,  for 
soon  you  will  have  no  father/' 

"You  must  not  die;  I  cannot  let  you  die;  if  you 
die  I  want  to  die,  too/'  cried  the  boy  in  an  agony 
of  grief,  and  it  seemed  as  if  his  sobs  would  choke 
him. 

"  Lawrence,  control  yourself.  If  not,  I  shall  pass 
away  before  I  say  to  you  what  I  wish/' 

With  a  great  effort,  Lawrence  held  back  his  sobs. 
"  Now,  father,  I  can  listen,"  he  whispered. 

"  First,  let  us  thank  God,  my  son,  that  He  is  per- 
mitting me  to  die  as  I  shall,  and  not  the  ignominious 
death  of  a  felon." 

"  Ketcham  will  never  try  to  hang  another  man," 
said  Lawrence. 

"Why,  did  Brown  kill  him?"  asked  Mr.  Mid* 
dleton. 

"  No,  I  shot  him,  just  after  he  shot  you." 

The  father  shuddered.  His  son  so  young,  and 
the  blood  of  a  fellow  creature  on  his  hands !  But  he 
felt  his  strength  going,  and  what  he  had  to  say 
he  must  say  at  once.  His  speech  was  so  broken, 

86 


THE  DYING  REQUEST  87 

and  he  had  to  stop  so  often  that  we  will  write  in  con- 
nected form,  what  he  had  to  say. 

"  Lawrence,  after  I  am  gone,  the  only  near  rela- 
tive that  you  will  have  is  my  brother  Alfred,  who 
resides  in  St.  Louis.  Your  mother  was  an  orphan 
when  I  married  her,  and  she  had  no  brother  or 
sister.  In  my  own  family  there  were  only  us  two, 
Alfred  and  I.  He  was  four  years  older  than  I,  and 
I  looked  upon  him  as  my  protector.  No  two  brothers 
ever  loved  one  another  more. 

"  He  was  bold  and  aggressive ;  I,  rather  timid.  I 
was  of  a  religious  nature;  he  did  not  give  much 
thought  to  religious  subjects,  but  he  was  the  soul  of 
honor.  Like  so  many  others,  he  believed  the  West 
furnished  better  opportunities  for  advancement  than 
the  East  and  decided  to  try  his  fortune  there.  He 
finally  settled  in  St.  Louis,  and  was  very  successful 
in  business.  There  he  married  a  rich  Southern 
lady,  who  owned  two  or  three  plantations  with  a 
large  number  of  slaves. 

"  I  remained  in  Ohio,  took  a  college  course,  and, 
as  you  know,  became  a  minister.  My  life  was  a 
very  happy  one  until  your  mother  died.  But  I  had 
you,  and  in  you  I  found  comfort.  I  always  hated 
slavery  and  am  what  is  known  as  an  Abolitionist. 
When  my  brother  became  a  slaveowner,  I  wrote  him 
a  sharp  letter  which  he  answered  good-naturedly, 
saying,  if  I  knew  more  about  slavery,  I  would  think 
better  of  it. 


88  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

"  Just  before  you  were  born,  I  visited  him.  While 
there,  he  sold  a  negro  who  had  become  unruly,  to  a 
trader  to  be  taken  South.  The  negro  had  a  wife 
and  child,  and  when  I  witnessed  their  parting,  I  be- 
came very  indignant,  and  expressed  myself  strongly. 

"  '  Oh,  pshaw ! '  he  replied,  laughingly,  '  she  will 
forget  him  in  a  week,  and  have  another  man.' 

"The  heartlessness  of  the  remark  angered  me, 
and  in  my  rage  I  said  something  which  he  said  re- 
flected on  his  wife.  He  in  turn  became  very  angry, 
ordered  me  from  the  house,  and  said  he  never 
wanted  to  see  or  hear  from  me  again.  And  thus  we 
parted,  rage  in  the  heart  of  each.  I  have  never  seen 
him  or  heard  directly  from  him  since;  but  I  under- 
stand he  is  now  a  banker,  and  considered  one  of 
the  wealthiest  men  in  the  city. 

"  I  now  see  I  was  more  to  blame  than  he.  I  have 
learned  that  a  man  can  own  slaves,  and  yet  be  a 
good  man,  like  Judge  Lindsly.  I  have  also  learned 
that  our  moral  and  religious  opinions  are  largely  the 
result  of  our  education  and  environments.  If  I  had 
been  born  in  the  South,  I  might  have  had  a  very 
different  opinion  of  slavery. 

"  Lawrence,  when  I  am  gone,  I  want  you  to  go  to 
my  brother.  I  want  you  to  tell  him  that  while  I 
still  believe  that  slavery  is  one  of  the  greatest  curses 
of  the  age,  that  I  was  wrong  in  saying  what  I  did 
of  those  who  own  slaves.  His  wife,  your  Aunt 
Clara,  is  one  of  the  sweetest  women  I  ever  met. 


THE  DYING  REQUEST  89 

God  forgive  me  for  wronging  her  in  what  I  said. 
Tell  them  to  forgive  me;  that  I  will  rest  easier  if 
they  do.  You  will  go  to  them  and  tell  them  this, 
will  you  not,  Lawrence?" 

"  Yes,  father,  but  I  cannot  believe  you  did  any- 
thing wrong/'  replied  the  boy  brokenly. 

His  father's  last  words  were  very  broken,  and 
Lawrence  had  hard  work  to  put  them  together  con- 
nectedly. 

After  Lawrence  had  promised,  his  father  whis- 
pered :  "  Kiss  me,  Lawrence." 

Lawrence  pressed  a  kiss  on  his  forehead.  It  was 
already  damp  with  the  dew  of  death. 

"Lawrence  —  boy,  it's  growing  dark;  hold  my 
hand." 

Lawrence  took  the  hand,  his  tears  raining  down 
upon  it.  His  father's  lips  moved ;  and  bending  over, 
Lawrence  heard  the  whispered  words : 

"  The  Lord  is  my  shepherd,  I  shall  not  want.  He 
maketh  me  to  lie  down  in  green  pastures ;  he  leadeth 
me  beside  the  still  waters. 

"Yea,  though  I  walk  through  the  valley  of  the 
shadow  of  death,  I  will  fear  no  evil;  for  thou  art 
with  me;  thy  rod  and  thy  staff  they  comfort  me." 

A  smile  as  of  heavenly  peace  came  over  the  face 
of  the  dying  man  and  he  lay  very  still.  Through 
his  blinding  tears,  Lawrence  did  not  see,  but  the 
hand  he  held  grew  strangely  chill.  Then  he  noticed, 
and  a  cry  of  agony  broke  from  his  lips. 


90  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

Those  who  had  waited  in  silence  outside,  that 
father  and  son  might  be  alone,  came  in.  Kind  hands 
led  the  weeping  boy  away.  As  a  mother  comforts 
her  child,  so  did  Mrs.  Harmon  comfort  the  father- 
less boy,  and  with  his  head  pillowed  on  her  sympa- 
thetic breast,  after  a  while  he  sobbed  himself  to 
sleep. 

John  Brown  came  in  and  looked  on  the  face  of 
the  dead,  and  as  he  looked,  his  eyes  gleamed  with 
a  fanatical  fire,  and  his  hands  were  clenched  tightly. 

"  Would  we  had  come  a  few  minutes  earlier,"  he 
said,  "  and  not  one  of  the  sons  of  Belial  would  have 
escaped.  But  the  Lord  be  praised !  The  vengeance 
of  the  Almighty  has  been  swift  and  sure  on  the 
murderer." 

Before  he  left  —  for  Brown  was  on  his  way  to  a 
more  southern  point  in  the  Territory  —  he  gave 
Lawrence  his  blessing,  and  kissing  him,  said,  "My 
son,  through  all  your  life,  love  God,  and  hate 
slavery." 

These  were  his  last  words  to  Lawrence,  who  was 
never  to  see  him  again.  In  after  years,  when  the 
name  of  John  Brown  had  become  a  household  word, 
Lawrence  wished  he  had  been  older,  that  he  might 
have  studied  the  real  character  of  that  remarkable 
man.  As  it  was,  it  seemed  to  him  he  was  a  com- 
bination of  the  tenderest  love,  and  the  fiercest  hate ; 
that  his  religious  zeal  amounted  to  fanaticism;  and 
that  he  was  ready  at  all  times,  and  in  all  places,  to 


THE  DYING  REQUEST  91 

smite  the  enemies  of  the  Lord.  But  older  heads 
than  Lawrence's  have  analyzed  Brown's  character, 
and  the  disagreement  is  so  great,  the  world  is  none 
the  wiser. 

Never  did  that  thinly  settled  country  see  a  greater 
funeral  than  that  which  gathered  to  pay  the  last  re- 
spects to  the  remains  of  the  Reverend  Arthur  Mid- 
dleton.  The  people  came  from  miles  around.  He 
had  been  with  them  scarcely  a  week,  but  his  sad 
story  flew,  as  it  were,  on  the  wings  of  the  wind. 

Loving  hands  made  his  coffin;  the  loving  and 
tender  hands  of  women  prepared  his  shroud.  He 
was  laid  to  rest  amid  the  tears  of  what  was,  for 
that  country,  a  vast  concourse.  He  was  buried  on  a 
knoll  which  overlooked  the  country  for  miles  around, 
and  which  had  already  been  consecrated  by  the  set- 
tlers as  the  last  resting-place  of  their  few  dead. 

Many  were  the  words  of  love  and  sympathy 
spoken  to  the  orphan  boy.  Women  wept  over  him, 
as  if  his  sorrow  were  their  own.  Not  a  house  for 
miles  around  but  would  gladly  have  opened  its 
doors  to  him.  Most  of  them  were  rude  and  poor, 
but  in  them  were  kind  and  loving  hearts.  More 
than  one  mother  would  have  taken  the  lonely  boy 
to  her  bosom  as  one  of  her  own  children. 

You  boys  and  girls  who  reside  in  great  cities,  you 
can  little  understand  the  tenderness  and  love  which 
exist  in  the  country  when  death  comes.  In  tlhe 
city  you  are  lost,  and  no  one  heeds  when  affliction 


92  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

comes ;  but  in  the  country,  especially  a  new  country, 
it  is  different.  There,  the  human  heart,  untram- 
melled by  the  lust  for  wealth,  and  unfettered  from 
selfish  ambition,  knows  and  feels  for  the  sorrow 
of  others. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harmon  pressed  Lawrence  to  make 
their  home  his  home,  to  be  as  one  of  their  own  chil- 
dren. But  when  he  told  them  of  his  father's  last 
wishes,  and  of  his  promise  to  obey  them,  they  said 
no  more.  The  request  of  the  dead  should  be  heeded, 
but  it  was  with  sad  hearts  they  consented  to  give 
him  up. 

Of  the  money  which  had  been  sewed  in  Law- 
rence's clothes,  there  was  over  a  hundred  dollars 
left.  The  kind  settlers  would  not  take  a  cent. 
There  were  no  funeral  expenses. 

Mr.  Harmon  proved  a  wise  adviser.  "  I  will  go 
with  you  to  Leavenworth,"  he  said.  "You  must 
have  a  good  outfit  of  clothes.  From  what  your 
father  said,  your  uncle  must  be  very  rich,  and  you 
must  go  looking  respectable.  After  the  clothes  are 
bought,  there  will  be  enough  left  to  secure  cabin 
passage.  You  must  travel  like  the  little  gentleman 
that  you  are." 

At  last  all  preparations  were  completed,  and  Law- 
rence was  ready  to  start.  The  last  thing  he  did  was 
to  visit  his  father's  grave.  He  threw  himself  down 
on  the  earth  and  bedewed  it  with  burning  tears.  It 
seemed  to  him  that  it  was  his  father,  not  his 


THE  DYING  REQUEST  93 

lifeless  remains,  that  he  was  leaving;  and,  oh!  it  was 
so  cruel  to  leave  him  there  to  sleep  all  alone  —  leave 
him  for  the  rain  to  beat  down  upon  his  grave,  the 
cold  snows  of  winter  to  cover  it. 

His  faith  was  weak;  his  heart,  crushed  with 
grief,  could  not  look  beyond  the  grave.  It  was 
there  his  father  was.  The  last  rays  of  the  setting 
sun  were  touching  the  mound,  as  he  knelt  to  say 
the  last  farewell.  All  around  the  prairie  was  brown 
and  sere ;  the  touch  of  Autumn  and  of  death  was  on 
the  earth;  but  in  the  west  the  sun  was  setting  in  a 
blaze  of  glory.  Was  this  glory  the  harbinger  of 
what  was  beyond? 


CHAPTER  VII 

DOWN  THE  RIVER 

WITH  the  first  light  of  day,  Mr.  Harmon  and 
Lawrence  started  for  Leavenworth.  His 
parting  with  Mrs.  Harmon  caused  his  tears 
to  flow  afresh,  and  the  good  woman  clung  to  him, 
as  if  she  could  not  let  him  go.  She  kissed  him 
again  and  again,  and  called  him  her  darling  boy. 
But  the  last  good-bye  had  to  be  said,  and  they  were 
on  their  way. 

For  the  first  few  miles,  Lawrence  said  little.  His 
heart  was  like  lead,  and  he  felt  that  when  he  parted 
with  Mr.  Harmon,  he  would  part  with  the  last 
friend  he  had  on  earth.  He  dreaded  to  meet  his 
uncle,  the  man  who  had  quarrelled  with  his  father. 
What  kind  of  a  reception  would  he  have  ?  Mr.  Har- 
mon respected  his  silence,  and  said  little.  Thus  mile 
after  mile  was  passed.  The  country  through  which 
they  were  journeying  was  a  beautiful  one.  On  every 
side  stretched  the  broad  prairies,  now  brown  and 
sere,  under  the  Autumn  sky.  Here  and  there  could 
be  seen  the  humble  abode  of  some  settler;  and  two 
or  three  times  they  passed  the  charred  remains  of 
some  cabin.  The  Missouri  border  ruffians  had  come 
that  way. 

But  childhood  is  ever  buoyant  and  hopeful,  and 

94 


DOWN  THE  RIVER  95 

sorrow  cannot  forever  bind  it.  Almost  before  Law- 
rence realized  it,  he  was  talking  with  Mr.  Harmon, 
asking  him  questions,  and  seeking  his  advice.  He 
could  not  have  had  a  better  adviser. 

Mr.  Harmon  was  a  well  read,  educated  man.  He 
had  been  a  school  teacher  in  the  East,  but  like  so 
many  others,  he  had  come  to  Kansas  to  help  to  make 
it  free,  and  to  carve  out  for  himself  a  home.  Little 
by  little  he  drew  from  Lawrence  all  that  his  father 
had  told  him.  He  looked  grave  when  told  of  the 
quarrel  the  brothers  had  had,  and  that  there  had 
been  no  intercourse  between  them  for  twelve  years. 

"Lawrence,  you  must  be  careful,"  he  said;  "let 
me  give  you  some  advice.  I  gather  from  what  you 
say,  that  your  uncle  is  very  wealthy;  that  he  is  a 
slaveholder,  and  firmly  wedded  to  the  belief  that 
slavery  is  right.  Your  father  and  he  quarrelled  bit- 
terly on  the  subject,  and  parted  in  anger.  When  he 
learns  that  your  father  lost  his  life  in  trying  to 
make  Kansas  free,  it  will  not  add  to  your  welcome. 

"Yet,  your  father  says  he  is  a  good  man,  and 
that  he  himself  was  more  to  blame  than  his  brother, 
for  in  the  heat  of  the  argument  he  said  what  should 
not  have  been  said.  Now  do  not  make  the  same 
mistake  that  your  father  made.  Whatever  your 
feelings  on  the  question  of  slavery  are  —  and  I  well 
know  what  they  are  —  keep  silent.  Never  argue  the 
question  of  the  right  or  wrong  of  slavery  while 
under  his  roof.  Young  as  you  are,  they  will  not 


96  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

expect  you  to  be  a  partisan,  one  way  or  the  other. 
You  understand  what  I  mean,  do  you  not?  " 

"  Yes,"  answered  the  boy.  "  I  am  not  to  lie,  and 
pretend  to  be  what  I  am  not ;  but  I  am  to  accept  the 
situation  in  my  uncle's  household,  and  find  no  fault. 
If  I  see  things  I  don't  like,  I  am  to  keep  still.  Above 
all,  I  am  never  to  tell  uncle  it  is  wrong  to  keep 
slaves." 

"  That  is  it,  Lawrence,"  said  Mr.  Harmon,  much 
gratified.  "  You  understand  perfectly,  and  are  wise 
beyond  your  years." 

Lawrence  was  soon  to  learn  how  valuable  the 
advice  was  which  Mr.  Harmon  gave  him. 

In  due  time  Leavenworth  was  reached,  and  they 
learned  that  a  steamboat  was  due  from  the  north 
that  evening,  and  would  not  leave  until  the  next 
morning. 

"First,"  said  Mr.  Harmon,  "we  will  go  to  the 
office  of  the  steamboat  line,  and  secure  your  ticket. 
We  shall  then  know  how  much  money  you  will  have 
left  for  clothes.  You  must  also  keep  some.  When 
travelling,  there  is  no  friend  like  money." 

They  found  that  a  ticket  for  cabin  passage  would 
make  quite  a  hole  in  Lawrence's  slender  means.  The 
agent  advised  him  to  secure  a  ticket  at  once,  as  the 
boat  would  be  crowded.  This  advice  Mr.  Harmon 
confirmed. 

When  Lawrence  handed  the  agent  the  money  to 
pay  for  the  ticket,  that  functionary  scrutinized  the 


DOWN  THE  RIV'ER  97 

bills  very  carefully,  looked  over  some  papers,  and 
then  said :  "  I  am  sorry,  my  boy,  but  I  cannot  take 
this  money.  Most  of  it  is  worthless ;  what  is  not  is 
subject  to  a  heavy  discount." 

Had  a  bolt  of  lightning  fallen  from  a  clear  sky, 
they  would  not  have  been  more  astonished.  Law- 
rence staggered  as  if  struck.  What  did  it  mean? 

"  Here,"  continued  the  agent,  holding  up  a  twen- 
ty-dollar bill,  "  is  a  bill  that  two  days  ago  I  would 
have  considered  good.  Yesterday  we  heard  that  the 
bank  had  gone  down.  Hundreds  of  banks  are  fail- 
ing all  over  the  country,  and  paper  money  is  be- 
coming'almost  valueless." 

Lawrence  gazed  at  Mr.  Harmon  in  mute  appeal, 
then  burst  into  tears,  and  sank  into  a  chair,  com- 
pletely overcome.  As  for  Mr.  Harmon,  he  was  as 
greatly  distressed  as  Lawrence ;  but  he  tried  to  cheer 
the  boy  up  by  saying:  " Never  mind,  Lawrence. 
You  will  have  to  go  back  with  me,  and  be  my  boy, 
after  all." 

"Let  me  see  the  rest  of  your  money,"  said  the 
agent,  kindly. 

Lawrence  handed  him  all  he  had.  The  agent 
looked  it  over  carefully,  and  then  said:  "Here  is 
a  bill  I  can  take,  but  there  is  a  heavy  discount  on 
it.  Let 's  see," —  and  he  figured  a  while, —  "  there 
will  be  just  about  enough  to  pay  deck  passage  to  St. 
Louis.  It 's  the  best  I  can  do,  but  it  will  be  a  rough 
passage  for  such  a  little  fellow  as  you." 


98  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

Mr.  Harmon  urged  Lawrence  to  return  with  him, 
but  the  boy  stoutly  refused. 

"No,  I  promised  father  to  go  to  St.  Louis,  and 
I  will  go,  if  I  have  to  walk/'  Lawrence  replied 
firmly. 

Mr.  Harmon  saw  that  it  was  useless  to  urge  him 
further,  so  a  ticket  for  deck  passage  was  bought, 
but  it  left  the  boy  penniless.  When  he  left  Mr. 
Harmon's  his  few  belongings  had  been  placed  in  an 
old  carpet  bag,  as  he  had  expected  to  buy  a  neat 
trunk  at  Leavenworth.  Out  of  his  own  slender 
purse  Mr.  Harmon  now  purchased  a  goodly  supply 
of  bread  and  meat,  carefully  wrapped  in  paper,  and 
the  packages  were  placed  in  the  carpet  bag.  It  was 
all  the  provisions  that  Lawrence  would  have  until  he 
reached  St.  Louis.  Deck  passengers  had  to  feed 
themselves. 

The  parting  with  Mr.  Harmon  was  a  painful  one. 
With  him  gone,  Lawrence  would  be  alone,  among 
strangers,  and  penniless.  But  he  choked  back  his 
sobs,  as  he  bade  Mr.  Harmon  farewell,  and  cau- 
tioned him  to  tell  Mrs.  Harmon  that  he  was  all 
right. 

But  Mr.  Harmon  afterwards  confessed  that  he 
had  never  seen  his  wife  so  angry  as  when  he  ar- 
rived at  home  and  told  how  he  had  left  the  boy. 
"  Why,"  he  exclaimed,  "  she  would  hardly  speak  to 
me  for  a  week/' 

It  was  after  dark  before  the  boat  drew  up  at  the 


DOWN   THE  RIVER  99 

dock  at  Leavenworth.  Lawrence  started  to  go  on 
board,  but  the  boat  was  unloading  and  taking 
freight,  and  he  was  pushed  and  jostled  and  cursed, 
and  told  to  get  out  of  the  way.  The  mate  was 
swearing  lustily  at  the  roustabouts,  and  Lawrence 
shuddered  at  the  language  he  used.  But  he  was  to 
become  accustomed  to  it  before  reaching  St.  Louis. 

As  the  boat  was  to  lie  at  Leavenworth  all  night, 
the  passengers  from  that  place  were  not  expected 
to  come  on  board  until  morning,  but  Lawrence  had 
no  place  to  go,  so  he  stood  aside,  and  watched  the 
loading  and  unloading.  At  last  the  din  and  hustle 
ceased,  the  crowd  on  the  dock  dispersed,  and  the 
gang  plank  was  about  to  be  hauled  in,  when  Law- 
rence darted  across  it  onto  the  boat. 

"  Here,  you  little  rascal,  where  are  you  going?  " 
cried  an  officer,  catching  him  by  the  collar.  "You 
get  out  of  this." 

"  Please,  sir,  I  have  a  ticket/5  said  Lawrence. 

"  A  ticket?  Let 's  see  it,"  gruffly  replied  the  official. 

Lawrence  handed  him  his  ticket.  He  glanced  at 
it  and  then  said,  "  Why  did  n't  you  wait  until  morn- 
ing?" 

"  Please,  sir,  I  had  nowhere  else  to  go/'  answered 
Lawrence. 

"  Well,  get  out  of  the  way ;  roost  on  a  box,  if  you 
want  to,  but  don't  let  me  find  you  sneaking  around/' 
and  he  gave  the  boy  a  push,  and  sent  him  in  among 
the  bales  and  boxes. 


100  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

At  a  loss  where  to  go  or  what  to  do,  he  sat  on  a 
box  looking  around,  and  wondering  where  he  would 
sleep.  He  noticed  that  in  a  place  where  the  deck 
was  bare  of  merchandise,  a  number  of  men  were  ly- 
ing asleep,  some  with  blankets  over  them,  others 
with  their  heads  on  dirty  bundles,  and  no  covering. 

At  last,  mustering  up  courage,  he  asked  a  petty 
officer  who  seemed  to  have  charge  of  the  deck  (for 
he  had  seen  him  go  along,  and  stir  up  two  or  three 
of  the  sleeping  men  with  his  foot,  and  tell  them  to 
move  along,  and  not  block  up  the  passage)  where 
he  could  sleep,  as  he  would  like  to  go  to  bed. 

The  man  looked  at  him  in  surprise,  and  burst 
into  a  hearty  laugh.  "  Why,  sonny,  do  you  expect 
this  'ere  boat  to  furnish  feather-beds  and  state-rooms 
for  deck  passengers  ?" 

Seeing  the  distressed  look  on  Lawrence's  face,  the 
man  asked,  "  Whar  air  you  goin',  sonny  ?" 

"To  St.  Louis,"  answered  Lawrence  faintly. 

"  An*  all  alone  ?    Whar  is  your  father  ?  " 

"  He  is  dead,  sir.  I  am  going  to  an  uncle  in  St. 
Louis,"  said  Lawrence,  holding  back  a  sob.  "I 
thought  I  had  money  enough  to  buy  cabin  passage, 
but  the  agent  said  it  was  bad  —  bank  just  broke." 

"Blast  the  banks!"  exclaimed  the  man;  "lost 
twenty-five  dollars  myself.  I  will  see  what  I  can  do 
for  you,  sonny." 

The  man  looked  around  and  found  a  bale  of  goods 


DOWN   THE  RIVER  101 

squeezed  in  between  two  large  boxes.  There  was 
just  room  between  the  two  boxes  for  Lawrence  to 
get  in. 

"  There,"  said  the  man,  "  you  crawl  in  there,  an' 
you  will  have  one  of  the  nicest  beds  the  deck 
affords." 

Lawrence  did  as  he  was  bid,  and  being  very  tired 
he  was  soon  fast  asleep,  and  did  not  awake  until 
the  noise  and  confusion  aroused  him  early  the  next 
morning.  Bewildered,  he  looked  around,  and  at 
first  did  not  realize  where  he  was,  then  recollection 
came,  and  he  crawled  out  of  his  narrow  quarters. 

Already  the  deck  hands  were  eating  their  coarse 
breakfast.  Lawrence  opened  his  carpet  sack,  and  ate 
heartily  of  his  bread  and  meat.  Then  placing  the 
sack  in  the  place  where  he  had  slept,  he  began  to  look 
around.  All  was  bustle  and  confusion,  as  on  the 
night  before.  More  freight  was  taken  on,  passen- 
gers came  streaming  on  board,  and  the  boat  was 
soon  under  way.  But  it  had  not  gone  far  before 
it  stuck  on  a  sand  bar,  and  there  it  remained  until 
afternoon. 

Boy-like,  he  grew  tired  and  restless,  and  began 
to  wander  around  and,  at  last,  found  his  way  into 
the  cabin.  How  nice  it  was!  What  a  fine  time 
he  could  have  had,  if  only  he  could  have  taken 
cabin  passage. 

Just  then  the  first  mate  came  through  the  cabin 


102  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

and  noticed  him.  "  Here,  you  boy,"  he  exclaimed, 
"  what  are  you  doing  here  ?  Have  you  a  cabin 
ticket?" 

"  No,  sir,"  said  Lawrence,  "only  a  deck  ticket." 

"  Then  get  down  whar  you  belong,  an'  don't  let 
me  see  you  up  heah  agin,"  and  the  officer  gave  him  a 
box  on  the  ear  which  set  him  rolling. 

Lawrence  arose,  his  ear  tingling,  and  his  face 
aflame  with  passion.  "If  I  were  a  man,  I  would 
whip  you,"  he  cried. 

For  a  moment  the  mate  stood  astonished,  and 
then  burst  into  a  coarse  laugh.  "  I  like  your  spunk, 
my  little  rooster,"  he  said,  "  but  it  takes  a  man  to 
whip  me.  Now  you  git." 

But  the  blow  had  been  seen  by  several  of  the  pas- 
sengers, and  among  them,  by  a  dainty  little  miss 
not  more  than  eight  years  of  age.  Shaking  her 
tiny  fist  at  the  mate,  and  stamping  her  foot,  she 
said: 

"  You  bad,  bad  man,  to  strike  a  little  boy !  You 
ought  to  be  'shamed  of  yourself." 

The  mate  turned  very  red  in  the  face,  and  walked 
away. 

"Lola,  what  are  you  doing?"  cried  a  sharp 
voice.  "  Come  here  this  minute !  " 

But  it  seemed  that  the  little  miss  had  not  been 
in  the  habit  of  obeying  very  promptly,  for  instead 
of  going  to  her  mother,  she  called  'out,  "Mamma, 
the  big  man  struck  the  little  boy" ;  and  going  up  to 


DOWN  THE  RIVER  103 

Lawrence,  she  said,  "  Little  boy,  did  it  hurted  you  ? 
Lola  is  sorry." 

But  by  this  time  her  mother  had  her  by  the  arm, 
dragging  her  away,  and  Lawrence  was  beating  a 
hasty  retreat.  The  cabin  saw  no  more  of  him  dur- 
ing the  passage,  but  he  often  thought  of  the  little 
girl,  and  wondered  if  her  mother  punished  her. 

It  was  so  late  when  the  boat  arrived  at  Kansas 
City  that  it  tied  up  for  the  night,  and  Lawrence 
once  more  crept  into  the  space  between  the  boxes  and 
slept.  In  the  morning  when  he  went  to  get  his  car- 
pet sack  for  some  breakfast,  it  was  nowhere  to  be 
found.  Some  one  had  stolen  it  during  the  night. 
Stunned  by  this  second  blow  of  misfortune,  he  sat 
down  utterly  disconsolate.  "I  might  as  well  die, 
and  be  done  with  it,"  he  thought. 

The  man  who  was  watch  on  the  deck,  the  one 
who  had  showed  him  the  place  in  which  to  sleep, 
noticed-  him,  and  said,  "  What  now,  my  little  fel- 
low? What  's  wrong  this  morning?  " 

Lawrence  told  him  of  his  new  trouble. 

"Well,  you  are  in  hard  luck.  Reckon,  though. 
if  you  don't  say  anything  I  can  fix  you." 

The  deck  hands  were  already  eating  their  break- 
fast, and  the  kind-hearted  watchman  went  and  spoke 
to  the  cook.  Soon  a  tin  cup  of  black  coffee  and 
some  black  bread  was  given  to  Lawrence;  and  dur- 
ing the  rest  of  the  trip  down  the  river,  the  deck 
hands  saw  that  Lawrence  did  not  lack  for  food  such 


104  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

as  it  was.  There  is  kindness  in  the  human  heart, 
even  among  the  ignorant  and  degraded. 

At  Kansas  City,  a  gang  of  half  a  dozen  negroes, 
handcuffed  together,  was  brought  on  board  by  a 
negro-trader.  While  Lawrence  was  pitying  their 
forlorn  condition,  to  his  astonishment  he  saw  that 
one  of  them  was  George.  His  face  bore  a  look  of 
utter  dejection.  Watching  his  chance,  when  no  one 
was  near,  Lawrence  went  up,  and  spoke  to  him. 
George's  face  lighted  up  when  he  saw  who  it  was. 

Lawrence  learned  that  Travers,  who  had  taken 
command  of  the  Missourians  after  the  death  of 
Ketcham,  instead  of  taking  him  back  to  his  master, 
had  sold  him  to  a  trader  to  be  taken  down  the  river. 

"  Oh !  Massa  Lawrence,"  he  groaned,  "  it  was  a 
bad  day  for  me  when  I  run  away  from  Massa 
Lindsly.  Now,  I  go  'way  down  South." 

"I  am  sorry,  George,"  said  Lawrence.  "You 
should  have  minded  father,  and  gone  back.". 

Here  the  conversation  was  stopped  by  the  trader 
who  came  to  see  how  his  charges  were  getting 
along.  He  swore  roundly  at  Lawrence  and  told 
him  if  he  ever  found  him  talking  with  his  niggers 
again  he  would  break  his  neck.  After  this  Lawrence 
took  notice,  and  saw  that  no  one,  not  even  the  deck 
hands,  spoke  to  the  poor  fellows.  They  were  left 
alone  in  their  misery. 

At  every  place  the  boat  stopped  going  down  the 
river,  there  was  great  rejoicing  over  the  result  of  the 


DOWN  THE  RIVER  105 

recent  election.  Buchanan  had  been  triumphantly 
elected,  and  the  South  was  happy.  In  many  places 
where  the  boat  stopped,  bonfires  were  blazing,  and 
the  people  were  holding  a  jubilee. 

One  day  Lawrence  overheard  the  trader  talking 
to  a  gentleman  whom  he  had  brought  down  to  see 
his  niggers.  "  They  air  a  likely  lot,"  said  the  trader, 
"  an'  I  bought  them  dirt-cheap.  You  see,  some  of 
them  upper-river  fellers  got  scared  thinkin'  Fremont 
might  be  elected ;  but  now  ole  Buck  got  in,  niggers 
will  go  up." 

"  Do  you  think  Buchanan  will  be  as  favorable  to 
the  South  as  Pierce  ?  "  asked  the  gentleman. 

"Suah,  he  is  all  right,"  was  the  answer. 

"I  am  almost  sorry  that  Fremont  was  not 
elected,"  said  the  gentleman. 

The    trader    opened    his    eyes    in  astonishment. 

"What's  that  you  say?"  he  asked.  "It's  not 
possible  you  have  turned  Abolitionist  ?  " 

The  gentleman  laughed.  "  Not  yet,  Evans,"  he 
answered.  "  But  if  Fremont  had  been  elected,  it 
would  have  given  the  South  an  excuse  to  secede 
from  the  Union.  I  am  sick  and  tired  of  being  yoked 
up  with  the  Northern  Abolitionists.  The  South  will 
never  come  to  her  own  until  she  is  a  separate  Gov- 
ernment." 

"Right  you  air,  Colonel.  And  we  are  blamed 
fools  for  not  bustin'  the  Union  long  ago." 

"  It 's  coming,  Evans,  it 's  coming,  and  that  before 


106  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

long.  Let 's  go  and  take  a  drink  to  the  coming 
Southern  Republic."  And  the  two  adjourned  to  the 
bar. 

The  voyage  down  the  stream  was  a  long  one. 
The  water  in  the  river  was  low,  and  the  steamer 
stuck  several  times.  The  passengers  grumbled,  and 
the  captain  swore,  but  that  did  not  raise  the  river. 

At  any  time  a  journey  down  the  Missouri  is  a  mo- 
notonous one.  There  is  nothing  pretty  about  the 
Missouri.  It  runs  between  low  clay  banks,  that  are 
continually  being  eaten  away.  Its  channel  is  shift- 
ing, and  where  the  water  is  deep  one  day,  may 
be  a  sand  bar  the  next.  The  pilot  can  guide  his  boat 
only  by  the  looks  of  the  water;  charts  are  no  good. 
Although  one  of  the  longest  of  rivers,  it  is  one 
of  the  meanest  to  navigate,  and  since  the  day  of  rail- 
roads, navigation  has  almost  ceased.  But  at  the  time 
of  which  we  write,  it  was  the  great  artery  of  com- 
merce between  St.  Louis  and  the  West. 

Lawrence  noticed  that  the  little  girl  who  had  be- 
friended him  got  off  the  boat  at  Jefferson  City.  He 
felt  more  lonely  than  ever,  even  though  he  had  not 
seen  her  since  the  day  he  invaded  the  cabin. 

Before  the  voyage  was  over,  Lawrence  was  a  sight 
to  behold.  Having  no  change  of  clothing,  he  was 
covered  with  the  smoke  and  grime  of  the  boat,  and 
he  became  so  dirty  he  loathed  himself.  How  could 
he  present  himself  to  his  uncle  in  this  condition? 
What  would  they  think  of  him?  The  thought 


DOWN   THE  RIVER  107 

troubled  him,  and  before  he  reached  St.  Louis  he  be- 
came haunted  with  the  fear  that  his  uncle  would  not 
receive  him. 

But  all  things  must  come  to  an  end,  and  at  last  the 
steamer  drew  up  to  the  wharf  at  St.  Louis.  The 
voyage  was  over. 


CHAPTER  VIII 

MR.  ALFRED  MIDDLETON 

IT  was  a  dirty,  scared,  and  faint-hearted  boy  that 
stepped  from  the  steamboat,  and  not  until  most 
of  the  other  passengers  had  gone,  did  Law- 
rence muster  up  courage  to  go  ashore.  The  more  he 
thought  of  meeting  his  uncle,  the  more  he  dreaded  it. 

The  noise  and  confusion  of  the  great  dock  appalled 
him,  and  it  looked  to  him  as  if  all  the  steamboats 
in  the  world  had  gathered  at  St.  Louis.  He  had 
tried  to  scrub  his  face  and  hands  before  he  left  the 
boat,  but  they  were  almost  as  grimy  as  ever.  He 
had  no  idea  where  to  go,  or  of  whom  to  inquire 
about  his  uncle. 

As  he  stood  undecided  what  to  do,  a  crowd  of 
wharf  hoodlums  swooped  down  upon  him. 

"  Hi !  sonny,  whar  you  goin'  ?  an*  whar  you  come 
from?"  they  shouted. 

Lawrence  looked  at  them  disdainfully,  and  with- 
out saying  a  word,  tried  to  push  past  them. 

"  Pards,  he  is  a  Aristocrat,  he  won't  notice  we'uns," 
cried  one  who  appeared  to  be  the  leader.  "  Jes'  look 
at  his  clo'es.  My!  but  arn't  they  swell?  Most  as 
good  as  we'uns.  Le  's  'nitiate  him,  pards,"  and  they 
made  for  him. 

Lawrence  defended  himself  gallantly,  but  there 
los 


MR.  ALFRED  MIDDLETON  109 

were  too  many  of  them,  and  he  was  getting  the  worst 
of  it,  when  one  of  them  cried,  "  Hi !  boys,  heah 
comes  a  cop/'  and  they  scattered  in  every  direction. 

Lawrence  came  out  of  the  melee  in  a  dilapidated 
condition.  His  hat  was  gone,  his  face  was  bloody, 
and  his  coat  was  torn  in  tatters. 

The  policeman  came  up,  and  roughly  seizing  him 
by  the  shoulder  said,  "  Phat  do  ye  mane  by  foightin' 
here?  Oi  will  have  to  run  yez  in." 

"  Please,  sir,"  said  Lawrence,  "  I  could  n't  help 
it.  I  just  got  off  the  steamboat  when  all  those  boys 
pitched  onto  me." 

"  Jist  got  off  the  boat,  did  ye?  Where  ye  goin'? 
An'  where  ye  come  from  ?  " 

"  I  came  from  Leavenworth,  Kansas,  sir,  and  I  am 
trying  to  find  my  uncle.  Perhaps  you  know  him." 

"  An*  who  may  yer  uncle  be?  "  asked  the  police- 
man. 

"  Mr.  Alfred  Middleton,  sir." 

"  Howly  Virgin !  Alfred  Middleton  yer  uncle ! 
The  gintleman  will  be  glad  to  see  his  nephew,  no 
doubt.  Why  did  n't  he  sind  his  kerrige  for  ye  ?  " 
And  the  policeman  shook  with  laughter. 

"  He  is  my  uncle,  all  the  same,"  cried  Lawrence, 
for  he  saw  the  policeman  did  not  believe  him,  "  and 
I  want  to  find  him." 

"  Well,  sonny,  go  find  him.  Oi  will  let  ye  go  this 
time,  but  if  Oi  ketch  ye  here  agin,  Oi  will  run  ye  in. 
Do  ye  hear?" 


110  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

"  Yes,  sir/'  said  Lawrence  meekly,  as  he  made  off. 

The  policeman  looked  puzzled.  "  Queer  kid  that," 
he  said.  "He  don't  talk  like  a  street  gamin;  but 
Alfred  Middleton  his  uncle !"  And  the  policeman 
went  off  into  a  fit  of  laughter  again. 

Lawrence  lost  no  time  in  escaping.  His  first  stop 
was  at  a  public  fountain  where  he  washed  the  blood 
from  his  face.  He  had  been  told  to  ask  a  policeman 
where  his  uncle  lived,  but  now  he  dare  not  ask  one; 
he  would  surely  be  "  run  in,"  so  he  kept  on  going  up 
the  street  he  was  on. 

At  last  he  mustered  up  courage,  and  asked  a  gen- 
teel looking  man  if  he  knew  where  Mr.  Alfred  Mid- 
dleton lived.  The  man  stared  at  him,  and  passed  on 
without  answering.  He  asked  others;  they  looked 
at  him,  laughed,  and  went  on.  Utterly  discouraged, 
he  at  last  sat  down  on  the  curb,  and  sobbed  as  if  his 
heart  would  break.  Hundreds  passed  by,  looked  at 
him  curiously,  and  hurried  on. 

"What  's  the  matter,  little  boy?  What  can  I  do 
for  you  ?  "  said  a  friendly  voice. 

Lawrence  looked  up  and  saw  a  rather  short  man, 
dressed  quite  plainly,  standing  by  him. 

"  What  is  it  ?  "  again  asked  the  gentleman.  "  Have 
some  of  the  other  boys  stolen  your  papers,  and  beaten 
you  for  crying  out?" 

The  kind  face  of  the  man  at  once  won  the  con- 
fidence of  Lawrence.  "  I  had  no  papers  to  sell,"  he 
answered,  "  but  I  want  to  find  my  uncle." 


MR.  ALFRED  MIDDLETON  111 

"  Your  uncle,  and  who  may  he  be  ?  " 

"  Mr.  Alfred  Middleton,  sir." 

The  gentleman  started.  "  Alfred  Middleton  your 
uncle?  I  know  him  by  reputation;  but  this  is 
strange." 

"  Oh !  sir,  can  you  tell  me  where  he  lives  ?  " 

"  Yes ;  but  if  Alfred  Middleton  is  your  uncle,  how 
came  you  here  in  such  a  condition  ?  " 

Lawrence  told  his  story,  and  the  gentleman  lis- 
tened attentively. 

"  It  may  be  true  what  you  say,  I  don't  know ;  but 
if  not  true,  there  will  be  little  harm  done." 

Thus  saying  he  signalled  a  passing  street  car.  It 
stopped,  and  the  gentleman  spoke  a  few  words  to  the 
conductor,  and  handed  him  five  cents. 

"  All  right,  Captain,"  said  the  conductor,  "  but  I 
reckon  you  are  bitten.  Jump  aboard!"  This  to 
Lawrence. 

"  Who  is  that  gentleman?"  asked  Lawrence  as 
he  climbed  aboard,  and  the  car  started. 

"That,  you  little  rascal,  is  Captain  Grant,"  an- 
swered the  conductor,  scowling  at  him.  "  So  you 
worked  him  for  a  street-car  fare,  did  you  ?  You  the 
nephew  of  Alfred  Middleton?  What  a  little  liar 
you  must  be !  " 

"  I  am  no  liar,"  replied  Lawrence.  .  "  Mr.  Middle- 
ton  is  my  uncle." 

"  All  right,  have  it  your  own  way,  but  if  you  go 
there,  and  don't  get  kicked  down  the  steps,  I  am  mis- 


112  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

taken,"  growled  the  conductor,  as  he  hustled  for- 
ward to  collect  fares. 

The  car  was  soon  in  the  most  aristocratic  resi- 
dence portion  of  the  city.  It  stopped,  and  the  con- 
ductor said  to  Lawrence,  pointing  down  the  cross 
street:  "Mr.  Middleton  lives  down  that  street  a 
block  or  two.  Now  get  out  quick." 

The  conductor  chuckled  when  he  started  the  car. 
"I  would  like  to  see  his  reception/'  he  said  to  him- 
self. "He  Alfred  Middleton's  nephew!  This  will 
be  a  good  one  to  tell  the  boys." 

Lawrence  went  slowly  down  the  street,  reading 
the  names  on  the  door-plates.  Each  step  that  he 
took,  it  seemed  harder  to  take  the  next.  He  was 
trembling  all  over.  More  than  once  he  thought  he 
must  run  away.  He  had  read  about  boys  in  great 
cities  making  a  living  by  selling  papers.  Captain 
Grant  had  taken  him  for  a  newsboy.  Why  could  he 
not  sell  papers  ?  Then  he  thought  of  his  promise  to 
his  father,  and  mustering  all  his  courage,  he  went  on. 

Soon  he  came  to  a  mansion,  grander  and  more  im- 
posing, he  thought,  than  its  neighbors,  and  on  the 
door-plate  he  read  the  name,  "  Alfred  Middleton." 
Lawrence's  heart  was  in  his  mouth.  How  could  he 
ever  ascend  those  marble  steps,  and  demand  admit- 
tance to  that  magnificent  palace  ?  Mustering  all  his 
courage,  he  went  up  the  steps,  halting  on  every  one. 
At  last  the  door  was  reached,  and  with  trembling 
hand,  he  rang  the  bell. 


MR.  ALFRED  MIDDLETON  113 

The  door  was  opened  by  a  negro  who  by  his  man- 
ner might  have  been  taken  for  the  proprietor  of  the 
house.  His  eye  fell  on  Lawrence. 

"  Did  you  ring  dat  door  bell  ?  "  he  asked  angrily. 

"Yes,  sir,  I—" 

"You  git,  or  I  give  you  to  de  perlice,"  and  the 
door  was  slammed  in  his  face. 

Lawrence  had  been  given  no  opportunity  of  ex- 
plaining who  he  was.  He  must  try  again.  He  must 
have  it  out  with  that  pompous  negro,  and  once  more 
he  rang  the  bell. 

Again  the  door  opened.  "You  heah  yet?"  now 
cried  the  thoroughly  angry  servant.  "  I'll  larn  you," 
and  he  drew  back  his  foot  to  kick  Lawrence  off  the 
steps. 

Lawrence  saw  the  movement.  "  Touch  me  if  you 
dare!"  he  cried.  "Mr.  Middleton  is  my  uncle." 

The  butler,  for  such  he  was,  stared  in  open- 
mouthed  astonishment.  This  ragged,  dirty  street 
Arab,  the  nephew  of  Mr.  Middleton  ?  Impossible ! 

"  You  lyin'  dirty  white-trash,  you  git,"  and  again 
he  drew  back  his  foot  to  kick  him. 

"  You  touch  me,  and  your  back  will  smart,"  cried 
Lawrence,  his  timidity  all  gone.  He  had  learned 
while  at  Judge  Lindsly's  that  a  slave  could  not  com- 
mit a  more  heinous  crime  than  to  strike  a  white 
person. 

The  butler  stood  aghast.  Who  was  this  ragged 
boy  who  thus  dared  to  defy  him  ? 


114  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

Just  then  a  fine  carriage  drawn  by  a  span  of  pranc- 
ing black  horses  drew  up  at  the  door.  A  black 
coachman  in  immaculate  livery  held  the  reins,  and  a 
footman  stood  on  the  step  behind.  As  the  carriage 
stopped,  the  footman  sprang  lightly  to  the  ground. 
He  took  in  the  little  comedy  at  the  door  with  a  broad 
grin,  and  taking  off  his  hat,  he  bowed  in  mock  ser- 
vility to  the  butler. 

"  What 's  de  mattah,  William?  "  he  asked.  "  Yo' 
Majesty  pears  to  be  flabbergasted." 

"  Dis,  dis  white-trash,"  said  the  butler  pointing  to 
Lawrence  in  disgust,  "  says  dat  Massa  Middleton  is 
his  uncle." 

"Golly!"  he  shouted,  "what  a  —  " 

But  he  stopped  short,  and  stood  respectfully  at  at- 
tention, hat  in  hand.  A  lady,  wrapped  for  a  ride, 
had  stepped  out  of  the  door.  She  looked  with  ques- 
tioning eyes,  first  at  Lawrence,  and  then  at  the  ser- 
vants. 

"What  does  all  this  mean?"  she  asked  coldly, 
"  and  who  is  this  ragged  boy  ?  " 

"Missy  Middleton,"  replied  the  butler  volubly, 
"  dis  boy,  he  rang  de  doah-bell,  and  when  I  threaten 
him  wid  de  perlice,  he  say,"  and  his  voice  sank  to  a 
whisper,  "  he  say  Massa  Middleton  is  his  uncle." 

The  lady  turned  to  Lawrence,  and  asked  sternly, 
"What  do  you  mean  by  such  a  story?  William, 
call  the  police." 

"Just  one  moment,  lady!"  cried  Lawrence  trem- 


MR.  ALFRED  MIDDLETON  115 

bling  at  the  thought  of  the  police.  "  Mr.  Middleton 
is  really  and  truly  my  uncle.  I  am  his  brother 
Arthur's  son." 

"Hold,  William,"  commanded  the  lady,  for  the 
butler  had  turned  to  go.  "  This  must  be  looked  into. 
Mr.  Middleton  has  a  brother  Arthur." 

Then  turning  to  Lawrence,  she  asked,  "  Where  is 
your  father?" 

"  He  is  dead,"  answered  Lawrence  with  a  sob. 

"Strange,"  murmured  the  lady.  "Alfred  has 
not  heard  from  his  brother  for  years.  I  remember 
they  parted  in  anger.  Can  it  be  possible  this  dis- 
reputable looking  boy  is  his  brother's  son?  " 

She  knitted  her  brow  as  in  thought,  and  then  turn- 
ing to  the  august  butler  said :  "  William,  take  this 
boy  to  the  servants'  quarters.  Mind,  answer  no 
questions,  and  let  as  few  see  him  as  possible.  I  was 
just  going  to  drive  to  the  bank  for  Mr.  Middleton. 
I  will  bring  him  as  quickly  as  possible.  Keep  the 
boy  until  we  come." 

Saying  this,  she  entered  the  carriage,  and  was 
driven  rapidly  away. 

"  Come,"  said  the  butler  surlily  to  Lawrence,  "  an' 
mind  you  don't  speak  to  any  one,  an'  don't  you  brush 
'gainst  anything  wid  'em  dirty  clo'es." 

Thus  reminded,  Lawrence  was  conducted  to  the 
servants'  quarters,  the  butler  haughtily  refusing  to 
answer  a  question.  He  showed  Lawrence  into  a 
small  room,  and  left  him  'with  the  parting  injunction : 


116  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

"  Mind  now,  don't  you  stir  till  Massa  Middleton 
sends  for  you ! " 

In  the  meantime,  Mrs.  Middleton  was  being  driven 
to  the  bank,  much  perturbed  in  spirit.  Could  it  be 
possible  this  boy  was  really  her  husband's  nephew? 
And  if  he  was,  what  was  to  be  done?  She  shivered 
at  the  thought. 

As  Mr.  Middleton  entered  the  carriage  he  said: 
"  Clara,  don't  you  want  to  take  a  little  spin  through 
the  park  before  you  go  home?  This  is  one  of  the 
few  remaining  days  of  the  year  we  can  enjoy  it." 

"No,  Alfred,"  was  the  answer,  "we  had  better 
get  home  as  soon  as  possible.  A  very  strange  thing 
happened  just  as  I  started."  And  then  she  told  him 
of  what  had  occurred.  To  say  that  Mr.  Middleton 
was  astonished,  is  to  express  it  mildly. 

"What  kind  of  looking  boy  was  he?  "  he  asked. 

"  As  dirty  and  disreputable-looking  a  specimen  as 
I  ever  saw  on  the  street,  and  he  had  all  the  appear- 
ance of  having  been  in  a  fight.  There  was  blood  on 
his  clothes,  and  I  noticed  his  nose  was  a  little  swol- 
len, and  come  to  think  about  it,  he  had  no  hat." 

Mr.  Middleton  shrugged  his  shoulders.  "An  im- 
postor likely,"  he  remarked.  "  Some  of  these  street 
gamins  are  wonderfully  cunning." 

"I  don't  know,"  answered  his  wife.  "So  I 
thought  at  first,  but  there  was  something  about  the 
boy  I  could  not  understand.  He  bore  himself 


MR.  ALFRED  MIDDLETON  117 

proudly,  not  cringingly,  as  usual  with  such  boys, 
and  his  language  was  good." 

"  And  did  you  say  that  he  told  you  that  his  father 
was  dead?"  Mr.  Middleton's  voice  faltered  a  little 
as  he  asked  the  question. 

"  Yes,  and  there  were  tears  in  his  voice  as  he  told 
me." 

"  Strange !  Strange ! "  said  Mr.  Middleton  as  if  to 
himself,  and  then,  "  Clara,  you  remember  my  brother 
Arthur,  don't  you?" 

"Yes,  perfectly.  He  was  very  much  of  a  gen- 
tleman, and  finely  educated.  A  professor  in  some 
college,  was  he  not  ?  " 

"Yes,  but  a  fanatic  on  the  subject  of  slavery. 
That  is  what  we  quarrelled  about.  When  he  as 
much  as  said  you  and  I  would  go  straight  to  hell  if 
we  did  not  free  our  slaves,  and  intimated  that  no  re- 
fined Christian  woman  would  own  slaves,  it  was 
more  than  I  could  stand.  That  was  reflecting  on 
you,  dearest." 

"  What  if  this  waif  should  really  prove  to  be  his 
son?"  she  queried. 

"  We  shall  see.  It  would  not  do  to  let  him  starve; 
but  to  acknowledge  him  as  my  nephew!  It  makes 
me  shiver  to  think  of  it." 

"We  could  quietly  get  him  a  home  some  place, 
and  not  let  it  be  known  that  he  was  your  nephew," 
she  replied  timidly. 


118  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

"  Yes,  but  the  chances  are  the  boy  is  an  impostor. 
Don't  let  us  worry  until  we  know." 

But  that  the  stately  Mr.  Middleton  was  ill  at  ease 
his  wife  could  plainly  see.  "Drive  fast,"  was  his 
order  to  the  coachman,  and  they  were  soon  at  home. 

"  How  about  that  boy,  William? "  he  asked  of  the 
butler  as  soon  as  he  entered  the  house.  Whereupon 
with  many  embellishments,  William  told  of  his  en- 
counter with  Lawrence. 

"  Go  and  bring  him  to  me  at  once  —  in  the  li- 
brary," ordered  the  master. 

"  Pardon,  massa,"  said  William,  "  but  dat  boy  is 
jes'  too  dirty  to  bring  anywhar.  I  put  him  in  dat 
little  room  we  keep  rubbish  in.  He  will  dirty  eben 
dat." 

"  Very  well,  William,  I  will  see  him  there.  It  's 
better,  for,  if  he  should  prove  an  impostor,  the  po- 
lice can  take  him  out  the  back  way." 

From  what  his  wife  and  William  had  said,  Mr. 
Middleton  was  prepared  to  see  a  very  disreputable 
specimen  of  the  street  gamin;  but  he  was  not  quite 
prepared  to  see  what  he  did. 

Lawrence  was  dejectedly  sitting  on  a  box.  His 
rags  hung  around  him  in  strings,  and  he  looked  as 
if  the  grime  of  a  coal  mine  had  been  ground  into  his 
clothes.  His  tear-stained  face  was  streaked  with 
black,  for  he  had  tried  to  wipe  away  his  tears  with 
his  sleeve. 


MR.  ALFRED  MIDDLETON  119 

"Great  heavens!"  thought  Mr.  Middleton,  "can 
this  boy  be  my  nephew?" 

"  Massa  Middleton,  sah,"  said  William. 

Lawrence  sprang  to  his  feet,  and  drew  himself 
proudly  up.  He  saw  before  him  a  man  about  fifty 
years  of  age,  with  slightly  gray  hair,  and  with  eyes 
which  seemed  to  look  him  through  and  through. 
His  mouth  and  chin  denoted  firmness  and  decision 
of  character.  Yet  it  was  not  an  unpleasant  face. 
Mr.  Middleton  was  called  a  very  handsome  man. 
Lawrence  saw  that  he  bore  a  resemblance  to  his 
father,  but  he  was  a  much  larger  man,  and  his  face 
was  not  so  refined.  He  looked  more  like  a  man  of 
the  world  than  the  boy's  dead  father. 

"Your  nephew,  sir/'  said  Lawrence,  not  boast- 
ingly,  but  as  a  matter  of  fact. 

It  was  not  the  greeting  that  Mr.  Middleton  ex- 
pected. It  rather  surprised  him ;  but  collecting  him- 
self, he  replied  curtly,  "  That  remains  to  be  seen." 

He  now  put  Lawrence  through  an  examination 
that  would  have  done  honor  to  a  lawyer.  But  Law- 
rence proved  a  star  witness.  He  was  well  informed 
on  the  history  of  his  father's  family,  and  answered 
every  question  correctly,  and  without  hesitation. 

Mr.  Middleton  bit  his  lip  in  vexation.  This  boy 
was  no  doubt  his  nephew.  What  should  he  do  with 
him  ?  That  he  would  decide  later,  but  one  thing  was 
certain,  he  must  be  cleaned  up. 


Hi  WITH  LYOX  iy  MISSOURI 

"How  was  it  you  came  to  me?"  he  asked. 

"Because  my  dying  father  requested  it,"  answered 
Lawrence. 

"But  your  condition,  how  did  that  come? 
Sorely  your  father  did  not  live  in  filth  and  rags," 

"It  is  a  long,  a  horrible  story,  sir,  but  poor  father 
is  not  to  blame  for  my  condition." 

u  Never  mind  now,  if  the  story  is  long  and  as  you 
say,  a  horrible  one,"  said  Mr.  Middleton,  "  I  can 
hear  it  after  a  while.  The  first  thing  is  to  make  you 
look  a  little  more  decent.  I  can  then  listen  to  your 
story  with  much  better  grace." 

Then  turning  to  his  butler  he  said :  "  We  have  no 
time  to  get  a  tailor-made  suit  for  this  boy.  Take 
his  measure,  and  go  to  a  clothing  store,  and  buy  a 
suit  The  best  they  have.  Buy  everything,  under- 
clothing, hat,  shoes,  you  understand." 

u  Yes,  massa,  I  understand" 

"  One  thing  more.  Before  you  go,  conduct  my  — 
this  boy  to  the  bathroom,  and  let  him  thoroughly 
cleanse  himself,  by  the  time  you  get  bade  with  the 
dothe*" 

"  Yes,  sah,"  said  the  butler. 

But  when  he  was  out  of  his  master's  sight  he 
sniffed  contemptuously,  and  with  head  high  in  air, 
led  the  way  to  the  bathroom. 

As  Mr.  Middleton  joined  his  wife,  she  looked  at 
him  inquiringly.  "  He  is  Arthur's  boy,  all  right," 
he  said.  "  I  never  saw  a  worse-looking  little  vaga- 


MR.  ALFRED  MIDDLE!  121 

bond,  but  he  is  as  bright  as  a  dollar.  Had  the  whole 
family  history  at  his  fingers'  ends.  It  's  a  puzzling 
case." 

"  Did  he  tell  you  how  he  came  in  such  a  condi- 
tion ?"  asked  Mrs.  Middleton. 

"  No,  he  said  the  story  was  a  long  and  horrible 
one,  so  I  sent  William  for  some  clothes  for  him,  and 
the  boy  himself  to  the  bathroom.  We  shall  see  how 
he  looks  when  he  gets  cleaned  up.  It  may  be  wrong, 
Clara,  but  I  wish  to  Heaven  I  had  never  seen  him/' 

"  I  don't  blame  you,  Alfred,"  was  her  answer. 

How  good  that  bathroom  looked  to  Lawrence! 
He  filled  the  tub  with  water  as  hot  as  he  could  bear, 
jerked  off  his  filthy  clothes,  and  was  quickly  in  the 
tub  scrubbing  himself.  He  wondered  how  any  one 
could  be  as  dirty  as  he  was.  The  water  soon  became 
black.  He  let  it  run  out,  and  filled  the  tub  again. 
This  he  did  four  times  before  he  became  fully  sat- 
isfied he  was  clean. 

By  the  time  he  was  through,  William  was  knock- 
ing at  the  door,  and  Lawrence  opened  it  wide  enough 
for  him  to  pass  through  a  good  fat  parcel.  It  did 
not  take  him  long  to  get  inside  of  a  fine  suit  of 
clothes  which  fitted  him  to  perfection.  Even-thing 
was  complete,  even  to  a  necktie.  When  he  was  fully 
dressed,  Lawrence  surveyed  himself  in  the  glass, 
and  seemed  to  be  fully  satisfied  with  the  image  he 
saw. 

He  found  William  waiting  at  the  door,  and  that 


132  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

worthy  stared  at  him,  rubbed  his  eyes,  and  stared 
again.  Was  that  the  same  boy  he  had  taken  to  the 
bathroom  ?  That  boy  was  a  dirty  street  Arab.  The 
boy  who  stood  before  him  was  as  neat-looking  a  little 
gentleman  as  he  had  ever  seen.  It  is  wonderful  what 
a  transformation  soap,  water,  and  clothes  will  work. 

William  was  much  more  condescending.  "  What 
be  yo'  name,  young  massa  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Lawrence. " 

"Well,  Massa  Lawrence,  massa  an*  missy  be 
waitin'  fo'  you/'  and  he  conducted  Lawrence  into 
the  library,  where  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Middleton  were  sit- 
ting. If  William  had  been  surprised  at  the  change  in 
the  looks  of  Lawrence,  they  were  more  so.  They 
could  hardly  believe  their  eyes.  A  boy  stood  before 
them  of  whom  any  one  might  be  proud,  a  manly, 
sturdy  fellow.  He  saluted  his  uncle  and  aunt  grace- 
fully, and  remained  standing. 

"Sit  down,  Lawrence,"  said  his  uncle  kindly. 
Then  he  spoke  in  a  low  tone  to  his  wife.  She  nodded 
assent  to  what  he  said. 

"  Before  we  hear  your  story,  Lawrence,"  said  his 
uncle,  "  we  will  have  dinner,  as  the  servant  has  just 
announced  it  is  ready,  and  you  may  be  hungry." 

"  I  have  eaten  nothing  since  breakfast,"  Lawrence 
replied,  "  and  that  was  —  "  he  stopped. 

"  Was  what  ?  "  asked  his  uncle,  somewhat  curious. 

"The  fare  dealt  out  to  the  colored  deck-hands, 


MR.  ALFRED  MIDDLETON  123 

which  they  kindly  shared  with  me  to  keep  me  from 
starving,"  he  replied. 

Eating  food  dealt  out  to  the  slaves!  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Middleton  looked  at  one  another  in  consterna- 
tion. What  had  the  boy  been  through  ? 

"  The  quicker  we  get  where  there  is  something  to 
eat  the  better,"  said  his  uncle  rising. 

All  the  way  to  the  dining-room,  Mrs.  Middleton 
was  wondering  what  kind  of  table-manners  this 
strange  boy  had.  Lawrence  acquitted  himself  as  a 
well-mannered  boy  should.  Even  the  supercilious 
William  could  find  no  fault,  except  in  the  quantity 
he  ate. 

After  dinner  Lawrence  told  his  story,  and  he  told 
it  simply  and  effectively.  When  he  came  to  the 
story  of  the  mob,  Mr.  Middleton  was  visibly 
affected. 

"  Great  God ! "  he  exclaimed,  "  a  brother  of  mine 
subjected  to  such  an  indignity." 

Lawrence  would  have  passed  over  the  painful  sub- 
ject with  as  few  words  as  possible,  but  by  many 
questions  his  uncle  brought  out  all  the  facts  of  his 
heroism.  When  he  came  to  tell  how  Judge  Lindsly 
had  shown  pity,  and  had  taken  them  in,  Lawrence 
was  eloquent. 

"Judge  Lindsly  of  Platte  County?"  asked  his 
uncle. 

"  Yes,  sir." 


1*4  WITH  LYOX  IN  MISSOURI 

"  \\ hy,  I  know  him!    He  is  a  good  man." 

"Good!"  exclaimed  Lawrence,  "he  is  more  than 
good,  he  is  great.  When  he  faced  that  mob  that 
came  to  lynch  father,  I  could  think  of  nothing  but 
one  of  those  old  Grecian  or  Roman  gods  of  myth- 
ology." 

"  Then  you  have  read  mythology,"  said  his  uncle. 

"  Yes,  father  was  very  fond  of  it,  and  we  used  to 
read  it  together." 

When  he  came  to  tell  of  his  father's  death,  Law- 
rence's voice  broke,  and  it  was  some  time  before  he 
could  go  on.  "  You  know  father  lived  a  short  time 
after  he  was  shot  It  was  then  he  told  me  to  come 
to  you.  He  —  said  you  had  quarrelled,  but  that 
he  was  more  to  blame  than  you,  and  he  wanted  you 
and  Mrs.  Middleton  to  forgive  him." 

Mr.  Middleton  arose  and  paced  the  room  with 
quick  nervous  steps.  The  story  of  his  brother's 
death,  and  how  in  his  dying  moments  he  had  asked 
forgiveness,  greatly  affected  him. 

At  last  he  turned,  and  asked  in  sudden  fury, 
"What  became  of  the  wretch  who  shot  him?  Did 
John  Brown  kill  him?" 

"No,"  replied  Lawrence  in  a  low  voice,  "I  shot 
him." 

"You?"  echoed  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Middleton  in 
unison. 

"Yes.     Don't  think  too  hard  of  me,  uncle." 

"  Think  hard  of  you !  "  exclaimed  Mr.  Middleton. 


MIL  ALFRED  MIDDLETON  125 

"  Why,  Lawrence,  you  are  a  true  Middleton !  The 
Middletons  come  of  stern  Puritan  stock."  He 
stopped  and  looked  at  his  wife.  "  I  hope  I  have  lost 
my  Puritanism,  Clara,  but  not  the  courage  of  the  old 
Puritans,"  he  added. 

She  smiled,  but  did  not  answer. 

Last  of  all  came  the  story  of  the  trip  down  the 
river. 

"And  all  the  troubles  and  death  of  my  poor 
brother  were  brought  upon  him  on  account  of  his 
fanaticism  on  the  question  of  slavery,"  exclaimed 
Mr.  Middleton. 

Then  turning  to  Lawrence,  he  said,  "My  poor 
boy,  after  what  you  have  gone  through,  you  must  be 
very  tired.  Go  to  bed  now,  and  in  the  morning  I 
will  see  what  can  be  done  for  you.  Neither  do  I  feel 
like  talking  more.  The  story  of  your  father's  death 
has  greatly  affected  me." 

Lawrence  gladly  accepted  the  opportunity  to  re- 
tire, for  the  excitement  of  the  day  had  completely 
exhausted  him. 

"  He  makes  me  think  of  Harry,"  said  Mrs.  Mid- 
dleton, with  a  sigh.  Harry  was  a  son  they  had  lost 
some  years  before.  "  My  heart  has  already  gone  out 
to  him.  Of  course  you  will  give  him  a  home, 
Alfred?" 

"  That  depends  on  how  much  of  his  father's  fa- 
natical opinions  of  slavery  he  has  imbibed,"  replied 
Mr.  Middleton.  "  I  shall  see  he  does  not  suffer,  but 


126  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

to  make  him  one  of  the  family  I  will  not,  if  he  is 
a  carping  Abolitionist.  I  like  the  boy;  he  is  one  to 
be  proud  of  —  a  hero,  I  might  say.  The  rescue  of  his 
father  was  wonderful,  and  to  think  of  his  shooting 
his  father's  slayer.  Clara,  I  want  to  keep  him  if  I 
can." 

"  I  hope  we  can,"  was  her  answer. 

A  good  night's  rest  did  wonders  for  Lawrence, 
and  he  felt  like  a  new  boy.  After  breakfast,  he  was 
called  into  the  library,  by  his  uncle. 

"Lawrence,  I  have  called  you  in  here  to  have  a 
thorough  understanding  with  you.  You  are  young, 
but  I  believe  wise  beyond  your  years.  I  shall  see 
that  you  are  cared  for,  but  whether  you  remain  as  a 
member  of  my  family  or  not,  depends  on  certain 
conditions.  At  present,  you  can  hardly  realize  how 
different  the  conditions  are  here,  and  in  the  North. 

"Your  father  not  only  thought  slavery  a  moral 
wrong,  but  was,  I  am  sorry  to  say,  a  fanatic  upon 
the  subject.  That  fanaticism  not  only  brought  upon 
him  all  his  troubles,  but  caused  his  untimely  death. 
That  I  had  a  brother  mixed  up  in  the  Kansas  trou- 
bles, and  a  follower  of  John  Brown,  I  do  not  care  to 
have  known. 

"  If  you  come  to  me,  you  must  never  let  it  be 
known  how  your  father  died.  You  can  simply  say  he 
is  dead,  and  that  you  came  to  me  as,  your1  only  liv- 
ing relative.  You  can  say  he  was  a  minister  and  lived 
in  Ohio.  This  you  can  say  truthfully,  for  he  never 


MR.  ALFRED  MIDDLETON  127 

had  a  residence  in  Kansas.  But  his  journey  through 
Missouri,  and  how  he  died  must  be  a  sealed  book. 
Do  you  understand?" 

"  I  think  I  do/'  replied  Lawrence  in  a  trembling 
voice.  "  I  can  never  forget  my  father,  but  if  I  could 
blot  out  the  remembrance  of  those  horrible  days,  I 
would  gladly  do  so." 

"  That  is  right,"  said  Mr.  Middleton,  much  grat- 
ified at  his  answer.  "  Your  father  was  a  noble  but 
mistaken  man.  From  what  you  say,  I  think  he  saw 
his  mistake  in  his  dying  hour.  No,  Lawrence,  do  not 
forget  him,  but  here,  never  speak  of  his  connection 
with  the  Kansas  troubles. 

"One  thing  more.  I  do  not  know  how  much  of 
his  hatred  of  slavery  you  have  imbibed.  I  do  not 
seek  to  control  your  private  belief.  Now  you  are 
here,  you  can  study  the  institution  for  yourself ;  but 
I  will  have  no  disruptions  in  my  own  house.  If  you 
do  not  believe  in  it,  keep  still  and  say  nothing.  I 
trust  you  see  the  wisdom  of  what  I  ask.  It  would 
create  much  unfavorable  criticism,  if  a  member  of 
my  own  household  were  continually  talking  on,  the 
evils  of  slavery." 

Lawrence  thought  of  the  advice  Mr.  Harmon  had 
given  him,  and  said,  "  As  long  as  I  am  an  inmate  of 
your  house,  I  will  do  as  you  wish.  Whatever  I  may 
believe  on  the  subject  of  slavery,  it  would  do  no  good 
to  discuss  it  here." 

"  You  are  a  sensible  boy,  Lawrence.    I  am  greatly 


128  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

pleased  with  you,"  said  his  uncle.  "  Now  as  to  my 
plans.  You  will  be  as  one  of  the  family.  I  will  edu- 
cate you,  see  that  you  are  established  in  some  profes- 
sion or  business.  After  that  you  should  care  for 
yourself." 

"  It  is  more  than  I  could  ask,"  replied  Lawrence, 
deeply  moved. 

"Did  your  father  have  any  property,  except  the 
few  hundred  dollars  he  took  with  him  to  Kansas?" 
asked  his  uncle. 

"  He  had  a  house,  and  some  money  in  the  bank, 
two  thousand  dollars  he  told  me.  But  as  it  was  in 
the  bank  my  worthless  bills  were  on,  I  think  that  is 
all  gone." 

"Probably,"  replied  his  uncle,  "but  I  will  see 
what  can  be  saved.  I  think  it  is  all  settled  now." 

"  Yes,  sir,"  said  Lawrence,  "and  I  cannot  tell 
you  how  grateful  I  am." 

"  It  is  all  right,"  answered  his  uncle,  "  and  hence- 
forth I  am  your  Uncle  Alfred." 

"And  I  am  your  Aunt  Clara,"  said  Mrs.  Middle- 
ton,  who  had  just  come  into  the  room. 

Lawrence  ran  to  her,  and  buried  his  face  in  her 
lap,  where  he  wept  tears  of  joy.  It  was  so  good 
once  more  to  feel  the  soft  caress  of  a  woman,  and  to 
be  loved ! 

Lawrence  now  learned  he  had  two  cousins,  An- 
nette, a  young  lady  of  eighteen  who  was  just  finish- 
ing her  education  at  a  boarding  school,  and  Edward, 


MR.  ALFRED  MIDDLETON  129 

a  boy  of  fifteen,  who  was  in  a  private  school  prepar- 
ing for  college,  which  he  would  be  able  to  enter  the 
coming  year. 

"  One  thing  I  forgot/'  said  his  uncle,  "  and  that  is 
you  are  never  to  speak  to  your  cousins  of  the  Kansas 
matter.  I  will  satisfy  their  curiosity,  as  much  as  they 
need  know.  Edward  is  a  proud,  high-spirited  boy, 
and  young  as  he  is,  is  already  quite  a  politician,  and 
devoted  to  the  interests  of  the  South.  I  am  glad  he 
is  not  at  home,  for  if  he  knew  all,  it  might  make 
some  difference  in  how  he  would  receive  you." 

And  here  in  this  luxurious  home,  surrounded  by 
those  who  learned  to  love  him  dearly,  we  will  leave 
Lawrence  for  four  years,  after  which  there  opened 
up  to  him  a  new  life,  one  full  of  adventures  and 
dangers. 


CHAPTER  IX 

FOUR  YEARS  AFTER 

THE  Fall  of  1860  found  Lawrence  a  stalwart 
boy  of  sixteen.  The  four  years  in  which 
he  had  been  a  member  of  his  uncle's  house- 
hold had  been  happy  ones.  His  cousin  Annette  was 
married,  and  had  a  home  of  her  own,  her  husband 
being  a  prominent  lawyer  and  politician  of  New 
Orleans.  His  cousin  Edward,  between  whom  and 
Lawrence  a  very  warm  friendship  existed,  was  fin- 
ishing his  senior  year  at  an  Eastern  college.  Law- 
rence was  one  of  the  most  popular  students  in  the 
academy  he  attended.  Not  only  was  he  the  foremost 
student,  but  he  excelled  in  all  athletic  sports. 

During  those  four  years  his  uncle  never  alluded 
to  the  question  of  slavery  or  discussed  it  with  him; 
and  Lawrence,  true  to  his  promise,  never  spoke  of 
those  dark  days  he  had  experienced  in  Missouri  and 
Kansas.  But  the  memory  of  his  father  was  ever 
present  in  his  mind. 

The  kindness  with  which  the  slaves  were  used  in 
his  uncle's  house  did  not  close  his  eyes  to  the  evils 
of  the  institution.  He  saw  human  beings  put  on  the 
auction  block,  and  sold ;  husbands  parted  from  their 
wives,  and  children  from  their  parents.  His  uncle 
had  taken  him  South  two  or  three  times  during  the 

130 


FOUR  YEARS  AFTER  131 

four  years,  and  there  he  saw  slaves  driven  to  their 
daily  task  like  dumb  brutes,  and  once  he  saw  a  slave 
cruelly  flogged  by  a  brutal  overseer.  He  also  saw 
that  the  South  was  firmly  wedded  to  the  institution, 
that  they  believed  it  right,  and  of  divine  origin. 
Not  for  a  moment  did  he  believe  that  the  gentle  aunt, 
whom  he  loved  as  a  mother,  thought  it  wrong  to 
own  slaves,  and  nothing  would  have  tempted  him  to 
say  a  word  to  hurt  her  feelings. 

In  the  four  years  which  had  passed,  there  occurred 
but  few  incidents  in  the  life  of  Lawrence  which  we 
need  mention.  When  he  had  been  at  his  uncle's  a  few 
months,  he  one  evening  attended  a  child's  party. 
Among  the  guests  he  was  astonished  to  see  the  little 
miss  who  had  befriended  him  on  the  steamboat.  He 
ascertained  that  her  name  was  Lola'  Laselle,  and  se- 
curing an  introduction,  danced  with  her.  Not  for  a 
moment  did  she  suspect  that  her  well  dressed,  gen- 
tlemanly little  partner  was  the  ragged,  dirty  boy  of 
the  steamboat.  Afterwards  Lawrence  saw  her  quite 
frequently,  and  they  became  great  friends. 

After  he  had  been  with  his  uncle  about  two  years, 
a  messenger  came  to  the  academy  which  he  attended, 
saying  he  was  wanted  at  home,  and  that  the  family 
carriage  was  waiting  for  him. 

"What  is  it,  John?"  he  asked  the  coachman,  as 
he  hurriedly  obeyed  the  summons.  "Is  any  one 
sick?" 

"  No  one  sick,  Massa  Lawrence/'  answered  the 


132  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

coachman.  "  Massa  Middleton,  he  brought  strange 
gemman  home  wid  him.  Perhaps  he  wanted  to  see 
young  Massa." 

Wondering  who  might  want  to  see  him,  Lawrence 
was  driven  hastily  home,  and  going  into  the  parlor, 
who  should  be  sitting  there  talking  with  his  uncle, 
but  Judge  Lindsly? 

He  waited  for  no  introduction,  but  rushing  for- 
ward, seized  the  Judge's  hand,  and  raised  it  to  his 
lips,  and  his  tears  fell  upon  it.  He  tried  to  speak, 
but  could  only  stammer  his  joy  of  the  meeting. 

Judge  Lindsly  was  greatly  moved  at  his  reception. 
He  wiped  his  eyes,  and  after  he  had  scanned  Law- 
rence from  head  to  feet  said:  "How  you  have 
grown !  You  are  getting  to  be  quite  a  man,  and  your 
uncle  gives  a  glowing  account  of  you.  Says  you  are 
getting  to  be  a  real  Missourian. 

"Little  did  I  think,"  said  the  Judge  turning  to 
Mr.  Middleton,  "  when  I  opened  my  doors,  and  took 
this  boy  and  his  father  in,  that  I  was  befriending  your 
brother  and  nephew.  What  are  you  thinking  of 
making  of  the  boy,  Middleton?  A  banker?" 

"  No ! "  answered  his  uncle,  "  he  wants  to  be  a 
lawyer,  and  I  am  educating  him  with  that  in  view." 

"  Good !  good ! "  exclaimed  the  Judge,  "  a  noble 
profession,  and  he  will  be  an  honor  to  it." 

"  If  I  can  only  become  as  great  and  good  a  law- 
yer as  you,"  said  Lawrence,  "  the  height  of  my  am- 
bition will  be  reached." 


FOUR  YEARS  AFTER  133 

"Oh,  you  flatterer!"  laughed  the  Judge,  "you 
must  aspire  higher  than  that."  But  he  seemed  to  be 
well  pleased. 

Lawrence  had  a  multitude  of  questions  to  ask,  and 
one  of  the  first  was,  "Hbw  is  good  Doctor  Good- 
now?" 

"As  fat  and  jolly  as  ever.  He  often  speaks  of 
you,  and  rejoices  over  your  good  fortune." 

"Why,  has  he  heard  of  me  since  I  left?"  asked 
Lawrence  in  surprise. 

"  There,  I  reckon  I  have  left  the  cat  out  of  the 
bag,"  said  the  Judge,  looking  at  Mr.  Middleton. 

"I  don't  mind  telling  you  now,  Lawrence,"  said 
his  uncle,  "  that  I  wrote  to  Judge  Lindsly  when  you 
first  came.  I  wanted  to  substantiate  the  remarkable 
story  you  told,  and  also  to  thank  Judge  Lindsly  for 
his  heroic  defence  of  my  brother." 

"  Then  the  Judge  and  the  Doctor  have  known  all 
this  time  where  I  was,"  said  Lawrence. 

"  Yes,  but  I  thought  it  best  for  them  not  to  write. 
I  wanted  you  to  forget  that  horrible  experience," 
answered  his  uncle. 

"Now  that  I  know  it,"  said  Lawrence,  "Judge, 
will  you  not  give  my  heartfelt  gratitude  to  the  Doc- 
tor, and  tell  him,  that  of  all  the  persons  in  the  world, 
except  you,  I  had  rather  shake  his  hand." 

"  That  I  will,"  answered  the  Judge. 

The  conversation  now  became  more  general.  In 
speaking  of  the  border  warfare,  the  Judge  said  it  was 


134  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

not  so  fierce  as  it  had  been  under  the  administration 
of  President  Pierce,  and  gave  it  as  his  opinion  that 
Kansas  would  eventually  come  in  as  a  free  State. 
Both  he  and  Mr.  Middleton  took  a  gloomy  view  of 
the  future  of  the  country,  and  both  agreed  that  the 
South  was  being  sorely  tried. 

"I  love  the  old  flag,"  said  the  Judge,  "and  it 
would  be  a  sad  day,  if  it  should  cease  to  float  over 
me;  but,  Middleton,  secession  is  in  the  air;  I  feel  it. 
And  if  it  should  come,  what  can  such  as  you  and  I 
do  ?  What  ought  we  to  do  ?  " 

"  If  that  day  ever  comes,  which  I  hope  it  never 
will,"  answered  Mr.  Middleton  slowly,  "although 
I  am  of  Northern  birth,  I  should  have  to  stay  with 
the  South." 

"And  I  should  have  to  do  the  same,"  said  the 
Judge,  "  but  let  us  hope  that  the  North  will  see  the 
justice  of  the  demands  of  the  South,  and  grant 
them." 

This  conversation  Lawrence  remembered  for  a 
long  time.  Was  war  impending  between  the  North 
and  the  South  ?  He  had  never  thought  of  it  in  that 
light  before.  Before  the  Judge  left,  Lawrence 
asked  for  a  private  interview  with  him,  which  was 
readily  granted. 

"  It  's  about  father,"  said  Lawrence,  with  some 
hesitation. 

"Please,  don't  speak  about  it  if  it  pains  you," 
said  the  Judge  kindly. 


FOUR  YEARS  AFTER  135 

"  But  I  must/'  answered  Lawrence,  "  for  it  is  to 
do  justice  to  his  memory  that  I  speak.  During  the 
few  days  that  he  lived  after  we  left,  I  often  heard 
him  allude  to  it.  He  was  in  fear  that  you  might 
think  that  in  some  way  he  was  instrumental  in  get- 
ting George  to  run  away.  It  was  a  bitter  thought 
to  him,  after  all  you  had  done  for  us." 

"I  never  entertained  such  an  idea.  I  am  sorry 
your  father  thought  so/'  answered  the  Judge. 

"  Father  never  knew  George  was  with  the  party/' 
continued  Lawrence,  "  until  we  reached  the  river, 
and  then  he  tried  so  hard  to  get  him  to  go  back  with 
the  horses;  but  John  Brown  would  not  listen  to  it, 
said  it  would  be  a  mortal  sin  to  send  a  man  back 
into  slavery.  But  I  think  poor  George  has  regretted 
many  a  time  that  he  ever  left  you." 

"Why,  what  makes  you  think  so?"  asked  the 
Judge. 

"  Have  you  never  heard  from  him  since  he  left  ?  " 

"  No,  why  do  you  ask  ?  " 

Then  Lawrence  told  him  of  seeing  George  on  the 
steamboat,  and  what  he  had  said. 

"  So  those  scoundrels  captured  him,  sold  him,  and 
kept  the  money,"  exclaimed  the  Judge,  with  some 
heat.  "  I  will  make  Travers  smart  for  it  yet,  if  I 
can  get  any  proof." 

When  the  Judge  departed  it  was  with  a  promise 
from  Lawrence  that  some  day  he  would  try  and 
visit  him. 


136  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

"  Spend  a  vacation  with  me,"  said  the  Judge, 
"you  will  enjoy  it." 

About  this  time  there  came  another  incident  into 
the  life  of  Lawrence  which  ever  after  influenced 
him.  The  great  debate  between  Lincoln  and  Doug- 
las was  being  held,  and  they  were  to  speak  at  Alton. 

Mr.  Middleton  was  a  great  admirer  of  Douglas, 
and  signified  his  intention  of  attending  the  debate. 
Lawrence  asked  permission  to  accompany  him, 
which  was  readily  granted. 

Douglas's  well  rounded  periods,  and  sonorous 
sentences  made  little  impression  on  him,  but  every 
word  that  Lincoln  spoke,  burned  into  his  very  soul. 
Here  was  a  man  that  believed  as  his  father  had  done, 
and  who  had  the  courage  of  his  convictions,  and 
forced  them  home  with  convincing  logic.  That 
speech  went  a  long  way  toward  making  Lawrence 
what  he  became. 

In  1859  came  John  Brown's  ill-fated  and  insane 
raid  on  Harper's  Ferry.  Lawrence  had  heard  little 
of  him  since  leaving  Kansas,  but  now  the  papers 
were  filled  with  the  account  of  the  raid.  The  South 
could  not,  or  would  not,  but  believe  that  his  raid  was 
backed  by  a  powerful  Northern  organization,  and 
for  a  time  the  excitement  ran  high.  His  trial  and 
execution  speedily  followed,  and  when  the  end  came, 
Lawrence  dropped  a  tear  to  his  memory.  His  raid 
could  be  looked  upon  only  as  the  act  of  an  insane 
man,  and  there  came  to  his  mind  the  words  of  Doc- 


FOUR   YEARS  AFTER  137 

tor  Goodnow,  "Brown,  your  fanaticism  will  get 
you  hanged  some  day." 

The  Fall  of  1860  found  the  country  in  the  throes 
of  another  presidential  election.  The  Republican 
party  stronger,  more  united  than  ever  in  its  opposi- 
tion to  the  extension  of  slavery,  had  for  its  standard- 
bearer,  Abraham  Lincoln. 

The  Democratic  party  was  rent  and  torn  with  fac- 
tional strife.  The  slavery  question  had  grown  to 
gigantic  proportions.  The  South  was  demanding 
more  and  more;  the  North  was  disposed  to  grant 
less. 

Stephen  A.  Douglas,  the  Little  Giant  of  Illinois, 
in  his  ambition  to  become  President,  endeavored  to 
conciliate  the  South.  To  accomplish  this,  he  it  was 
who  forced  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise, 
and  made  it  possible  for  Kansas  to  become  a  slave 
State. 

But  in  his  debate  with  Lincoln,  he  had  been  forced 
by  that  astute  politician  to  answer  a  certain  ques- 
tion, and  Douglas  answered  it  in  a  way  which  did 
not  please  the  South.  Moreover,  his  Kansas-Ne- 
braska bill  had  filled  the  nation  with  strife  and  in  no 
way  had  helped  the  South;  therefore  the  South 
would  have  none  of  him,  and  bolted  the  Democratic 
convention,  nominating  as  their  candidate  John  C. 
Breckenridge  on  a  strong  pro-slavery  platform. 

The  regular  convention  nominated  Douglas  on  a 
compromise  platform. 


138  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

Conservative  men  of  all  parties  saw  that  a  crisis 
was  coming,  and  an  Independent  convention  was 
called,  and  a  platform  adopted  denouncing  the  ex- 
treme measures  of  both  the  Republican  and  the 
Democratic  parties,  and  John  Bell  of  Tennessee  was 
nominated.  Thus  in  the  presidential  campaign  of 
1860  there  were  four  candidates. 

The  country  was  wild  with  excitement.  Monster 
mass-meetings  were  held,  attended  by  vast  multi- 
tudes. Thousands  of  men  marched  in  procession 
carrying  flaming  torches.  xThe  flood-gates  of  oratory 
were  opened,  and  the  country  was  deluged  with 
speeches. 

Although  his  party  was  divided,  Douglas  had 
hopes  of  being  elected ;  he  made  a  strong  appeal  to 
the  country,  claiming  that  his  election  was  the  only 
salvation  for  the  Union. 

Lincoln  did  not  dodge  the  situation,  offered  no 
compromise.  "A  house  divided  against  itself,"  he 
cried,  "cannot  stand.  This  nation  must  eventually 
become  all  slave,  or  all  free.  Which  shall  it  be?" 
He  declared  that  the  Republican  party  had  no  in- 
tention of  disturbing  slavery  where  it  was,  but  there 
must  be  no  more  slave  territory. 

The  South  claimed  that  all  the  Territories  should 
be  open  to  slavery,  and  thus  the  issues  were  joined. 
"Elect  Lincoln,  and  we  will  withdraw  from  the 
Union,  as  we  have  a  perfect  right  to  do  under  the 
Constitution,"  was  the  threat  which  the  South  con- 


He  received  a  blow  between  the  eyes  that  sent  him  sprawling 


FOUR  YEARS  AFTER  139 

stantly  made.  The  great  mass  of  the  people  of  the 
North  thought  that  these  were  only  idle  rumors 
meant  to  frighten,  but  there  were  those  who  felt  that 
the  South  was  in  deadly  earnest,  and  looked  on  the 
future  with  deep  foreboding. 

The  academy  which  Lawrence  attended  was  prin- 
cipally patronized  by  the  richest  and  most  aristo- 
cratic portion  of  St.  Louis,  therefore  it  was  a  hotbed 
of  Southern  sentiment.  The  political  excitement 
extended  to  the  boys,  and  they  were  even  more  vio- 
lent than  their  elders.  Douglas  clubs,  Breckenridge 
clubs,  and  Bell  clubs  were  formed.  Lincoln  had  no 
open  advocates  in  the  academy. 

"Which  club  will  you  join?"  asked  one  of  his 
schoolmates  of  Lawrence. 

"  If  I  joined  any,  I  should  join  the  Douglas  club," 
said  Lawrence.  "  Uncle  says  the  election  of  Doug- 
las is  the  only  thing  that  will  preserve  the  Union." 

"  Oh,  shucks !  "  exclaimed  a  fervid  Bell  boy,  "  elect 
John  Bell.  He  is  the  only  real  conservative,  and  he 
is  a  Southern  man,  and  the  South  should  be  satisfied 
with  him." 

"  Breckenridge  forever ! "  shouted  an  enthusiastic 
admirer  of  that  gentleman.  "  Give  us  Breckenridge 
or  away  goes  your  blamed  old  Union." 

The  discussion  grew  warm,  and  some  of  the  boys 
nearly  came  to  blows. 

"Here  is  a  paper  for  the  Douglas  cadets,"  said 
Leon  Lasalle,  a  boy  of  seventeen,  and  a  brother  of 


140  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

Lola,  handing  Lawrence  a  paper,  "Sign  that  and 
we  will  elect  you  captain.  We  boys  have  been  talk- 
ing it  over." 

Lawrence  shook  his  head.  "  No,  Leon/'  he  said, 
"  I  prefer  not  to  join  any  club.  We  are  having  al- 
together too  much  politics  for  the  good  of  our 
studies.  Let  our  elders  attend  to  the  politics." 

Leon  looked  disappointed  as  the  paper  was  re- 
turned to  him.  "  I  am  sorry/'  he  said,  "  you  will  be 
an  odd  fish,  Lawrence,  if  you  join  none  of  the  clubs." 

"I  know  why  he  don't  join,"  said  a  boy  by  the 
name  of  Benton  Shelley,  and  the  leader  of  the 
Breckenridge  forces.  "  I  asked  him  to  join  our  club, 
and  he  almost  insulted  me." 

"  What 's  the  reason  ?  "  shouted  a  dozen  voices. 

"Boys,"  said  Shelley,  drawing  himself  up  with 
importance,  "  all  the  time  that  Lawrence  Middleton 
has  attended  this  academy,  did  any  of  you  ever  hear 
him  say  one  word  on  politics?  Did  you  ever  know 
him  to  take  any  part  in  our  discussion  on  the  rights 
of  the  South  ?  Has  n't  he  been  as  dumb  as  an  oys- 
ter on  the  subject  of  slavery?  " 

"  That  Js  so!  that 's  so  !  "  shouted  the  boys,  "  but 
we  never  thought  of  it  before.  What  's  the  reason, 
Lawrence?" 

"  I  will  tell  you  the  reason,"  said  young  Shelley 
with  a  sneer.  "At  heart  he  is  a  Lincolnite,  but  he 
has  n't  the  grit  to  say  so.  He  is  not  only  a  Lincoln- 
ite, but  a  coward." 


FOUR  YEARS  AFTER  141 

Hardly  were  the  words  out  of  his  mouth  before 
he  received  a  blow  between  the  eyes  which  sent  him 
sprawling.  He  staggered  to  his  feet,  and  with  a 
howl  of  rage  made  for  Lawrence,  but  this  time  re- 
ceived a  blow  which  completely  knocked  him  out. 

The  campus  was  in  an  uproar.  "A  fight!  a 
fight !  "  shouted  the  boys,  as  they  crowded  around. 
But  the  fight  was  over.  Young  Shelley  had  had 
enough.  He  was  helped  to  his  feet  by  some  of  his 
companions,  and  led  away,  but  as  he  went,  he  cast 
such  a  look  of  malignant  hate  at  Lawrence  that  the 
latter  knew  he  had  made  an  enemy  forever. 

"  I  don't  blame  Middleton  a  bit,"  cried  one  of  the 
boys.  "  I  believe  I  would  shoot  any  one  who  called 
me  a  Lincolnite." 

"And  I !     And  I,"  shouted  a  dozen  others. 

Lawrence  saw  that  his  blow  was  misunderstood; 
it  was  the  word  "  coward  "  which  had  stung  him. 
But  he  saw  that  the  time  was  coming  when  he  would 
be  obliged  to  take  a  stand. 


CHAPTER   X 

LAWRENCE  TAKES  A  STAND 

THE  great  political  battle  was  at  an  end,  and 
by  their  ballots  the  American  people  had 
elected  Abraham  Lincoln  President  of  the 
United  States. 

Of  all  the  States  in  the  Union,  Missouri  alone 
gave  her  electoral  vote  to  Douglas.  Lincoln  re- 
ceived only  seventeen  thousand  votes  in  the  State  to 
Breckenridge's  thirty-one  thousand.  Bell  received, 
within  a  few  hundred,  as  many  votes  as  Douglas, 
which  showed  the  State  to  be  overwhelmingly  con- 
servative. 

The  other  border  slave  States  gave  their  electoral 
votes  to  Bell.  They  did  not  sympathize  with  the 
fire-eaters  of  the  South. 

There  was  great  rejoicing  in  the  North  over  the 
election  of  Lincoln.  Bonfires  blazed,  and  cannon 
thundered.  Wide-Awakes  marched,  with  their 
flaming  torches,  by  tens  of  thousands,  and  made  the 
welkin  ring  with  their  shouts  of  victory.  But  amid 
all  the  rejoicing  there  was  a  great  dread  over  the 
land.  Would  the  South  make  good  her  threats,  and 
secede  from  the  Union?  The  great  majority  of  the 
people  of  the  North  thought  not.  They  could  not 
imagine  the  South  would  attempt  anything  so  sui- 

142 


LAWRENCE  TAKES  A  STAND  143 

cidal;  but  there  were  thousands  who  looked  into 
each  other's  face  with  anxious  hearts,  and  asked, 
"What  next?" 

The  country  had  not  long  to  wait.  The  election 
of  Lincoln  caused  a  frenzy  of  rage  to  sweep  over  the 
entire  South.  The  fire-eaters  received  the  news  of 
his  election  with  as  much  joy  as  did  the  Republi- 
cans of  the  North.  It  was  just  what  they  wanted 
and  had  worked  for,  longed  for.  Now  they  could 
carry  out  their  long-cherished  plan  of  withdrawing 
from  the  Union.  But  to  the  great  mass  of  the 
Southern  people,  the  election  of  Lincoln  was  as  a 
deadly  blow  given  by  a  friend.  They  loved  the 
Union,  but  the  whole  North  had  turned  against 
them.  The  Government  their  forefathers  had 
helped  to  create,  and  had  shed  their  blood  for,  they 
believed  had  become  a  tyrant  to  oppress  them; 
therefore  they  turned  from  the  flag  which  sheltered 
them,  and  gave  ear  to  the  fiery  speeches,  and  fierce 
denunciations  of  the  fire-eaters. 

South  Carolina  set  the  ball  rolling,  and  passed  an 
Ordinance  of  Secession,  December  20.  The  people 
went  wild  when  the  act  was  passed,  and  a  wave  of 
enthusiasm  swept  over  the  State.  Little  did  they 
imagine  the  untold  woe  they  were  bringing  on  the 
Nation  by  reason  of  their  rash  act.  The  other  cot- 
ton States  were  not  slow  in  following  the  example 
of  South  Carolina,  and  before  the  year  1861  was 
a  month  old,  had  passed  ordinances  of  secession. 


144  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

The  border  slave  States  still  clung  to  the  Union, 
hoping  against  hope  that  the  conflict  might  be 
averted  and  the  Union  preserved;  but  the  extreme 
South  would  not  listen,  neither  would  the  North 
give  up  every  principle  for  which  they  had  fought 
and  won. 

On  the  fourth  of  February,  delegates  from  the 
States  which  had  seceded  met  in  convention  at 
Montgomery,  Alabama,  elected  Jefferson  Davis 
President  of  the  newly  formed  Confederate  States, 
and  what  they  believed  to  be  a  new  nation  was  for- 
mally launched. 

If  there  had  been  a  Jackson  in  the  Presidential 
chair,  the  rebellion  might  have  been  crushed  in  the 
beginning.  But  Buchanan,  weak  and  vacillating, 
saw  the  nation  crumbling,  and  sat  and  wrung  his 
hands  in  impotency,  as  the  ruins  fell  around  him. 
"The  South  has  no  right  to  secede,"  he  wailed, 
"  but  as  she  has  seceded,  I  have  no  right  to  coerce 
her  back  into  the  Union." 

Notwithstanding  that  the  cotton  States  had  set 
up  a  government  of  their  own,  there  were  still  a 
multitude  of  people  who  believed  that  the  war  might 
be  averted,  and  the  seceding  States  brought  back. 
Peace  meetings  were  held  all  over  the  country. 
There  had  yet  no  Patrick  Henry  arisen  to  thunder, 
"  Gentlemen  may  cry  '  Peace,  peace/  but  there  is  no 
peace;  the  war  has  actually  begun."  It  had  begun 
nearly  ten  years  before,  along  the  borders  of  Kan- 


LAWRENCE  TAKES  A  STAND  145 

sas  and  Missouri,  but  the  nation  had  closed  its  eyes 
to  the  fact.  Now  the  day  of  reckoning  had  come. 
Freedom  and  slavery  were  to  grapple  in  a  death 
struggle.  Lincoln  was  right,  the  country  had  to  be 
all  free,  or  all  slave. 

In  the  border  States,  a  terrific  struggle  was  go- 
ing on.  The  people  of  those  States  knew  if  war 
came,  it  would  be  they  who  would  suffer  the  most, 
and  they  appealed  to  both  North  and  South  to  stay 
their  hands.  Nowhere  was  the  approach  of  war 
looked  upon  with  more  apprehension  than  in  Mis- 
souri. Surrounded  on  three  sides  by  free  States, 
the  inhabitants  knew  that  if  war  came,  their  country 
would  be  overrun  with  hostile  troops ;  that  neighbor 
would  be  against  neighbor,  brother  against  brother, 
son  against  father.  No  wonder  they  feared  and 
trembled  as  the  war  clouds  gathered. 

Claiborne  F.  Jackson  had  been  elected  Governor 
of  Missouri  on  the  Douglas  ticket.  Jackson  pos- 
sessed many  characteristics  of  Old  Hickory.  Noth- 
ing daunted  him  in  carrying  out  his  designs.  Al- 
though elected  on  the  Douglas  ticket,  he  proved  as 
ardent  a  secessionist  as  Jefferson  Davis  himself.  In 
his  inaugural  address,  given  when  but  South  Caro- 
lina had  seceded,  he  said:  "Missouri  will,  in  my 
opinion,  best  consult  her  own  interests,  and  the  in- 
terests of  the  whole  country,  by  a  timely  declaration 
of  her  determination  to  stand  by  her  sister  slave- 
holding  States.'' 


146  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

And  from  that  time  Governor  Jackson  did  every- 
thing in  his  power  to  drag  Missouri  out  of  the 
Union.  The  Legislature  was  with  him,  and  they 
had  no  more  thought  but  that,  if  given  the  oppor- 
tunity, the  State  would  declare  for  secession,  than 
they  had  that  the  sun  would  cease  to  shine ;  so  they 
called  for  delegates  to  be  elected  to  a  State  conven- 
tion to  consider  the  question.  This  was  to  keep  up 
the  semblance  of  the  doctrine  of  State  Rights.  The 
Union  men  of  the  State  lost  no  time  in  meeting  the 
issue.  At  the  head  of  the  Unconditional  Union  men 
of  St.  Louis,  was  Frank  P.  Blair,  Jr.,  and  to  him 
the  Nation  owes  its  everlasting  gratitude  for  what 
he  did  and  what  he  accomplished. 

The  election  took  place  February  18,  and  the 
State  declared  for  the  Union  by  80,000  majority. 
Not  one  outspoken  secessionist  was  elected  to  the 
convention.  So  crushing  was  the  defeat  that  for  a 
time  Jackson  and  his  followers  were  confounded; 
but  they  soon  rallied,  and  as  all  the  State  machinery 
was  in  their  hands,  they  tried  to  accomplish  by  in- 
trigue ;  deceit,  and  force  what  they  could  not  by  the 
will  of  the  people. 

Throwing  the  doctrine  of  State  Rights  to  the 
winds,  Governor  Jackson  boldly  declared  his  inten- 
tion of  taking  the  State  out  of  the  Union,  it  making 
no  difference  to  him  how  great  a  majority  were 
against  it.  Now  began  a  battle  for  the  control  of 
the  State  that  for  intensity  was  not  equalled  in  any 


LAWRENCE  TAKES  A  STAND  147 

other  in  the  Union.  Governor  Jackson  waged  a 
battle  worthy  of  a  better  cause,  and  he  would  have 
been  successful,  if  it  had  not  been  for  two  men: 
Frank  P.  Blair  and  General  Nathaniel  Lyon.  In 
these  two  men,  Governor  Jackson  found  opponents 
as  brave,  as  bold,  as  daring  as  he. 

Lawrence  Middleton  could  not  remain  silent  in 
the  midst  of  such  excitement.  His  uncle  up  to  the 
time  of  the  convention  had  acted  with  the  conserva- 
tive Union  men.  He  still  hoped  that  by  wise  states- 
manship the  storm  might  be  averted.  Lawrence 
spoke  to  his  uncle,  and  asked  him  if  it  would  be  a 
violation  of  his  promise  if  he  declared  himself  for 
the  Union,  saying  it  was  impossible  for  him  to  re- 
main silent  any  longer  on  the  question  in  which  all 
were  absorbed. 

"  No,  Lawrence,"  said  his  uncle,  "  I  am  in  favor 
of  the  Union  as  long  as  there  is  any  Union  to  be 
preserved.  But  I  believe  the  South  is  justified  in 
demanding  her  rights.  I  still  hope  for  peace,  I  can- 
not believe  that  the  people  of  the  North  have  en- 
tirely lost  their  senses,  and  that  they  will  make  war 
on  the  South." 

"  But,  uncle,  if  there  should  be  war?"  asked  Law- 
rence. 

"If  the  Federal  Government  attempts  to  coerce 
the  South,  if  it  sends  a  hostile  force  in  our  midst, 
there  will  be  but  one  course  for  me  to  pursue,"  an- 
swered his  uncle,  "  I  shall  be  with  the  South." 


148  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

Lawrence  said  no  more,  but  from  that  day,  he 
was  known  as  a  stanch  Union  advocate. 

"  So  Benton  Shelley  was  right  after  all/'  sneered 
one  of  his  schoolmates.  "  You  are  a  Lincolnite,  and 
have  been  all  the  time." 

"To  be  for  the  Union  is  not  to  be  a  Lincolnite/' 
answered  Lawrence  hotly.  "  There  are  thousands 
of  men  here  in  St.  Louis  who  voted  for  Douglas  or 
Bell,  and  now  are  heart  and  soul  for  the  Union. 
But  if  it  suits  you  any  better,  I  will  say  that  Abra- 
ham Lincoln  has  been  lawfully  elected  President  of 
the  United  States,  and  that  every  true  loyal  per- 
son will  support  him  as  such.  I  for  one  will." 

"Support  the  dirty  buffoon  if  you  want  to/' 
angrily  answered  his  opponent,  "but  he  will  never 
be  President  of  the  South,  mark  that." 

"Come,  come,  boys/'  spoke  up  Arthur  Reel,  a 
friend  of  Lawrence  but  of  Southern  proclivities, 
"  don't  quarrel.  If  war  come,  we  will  all  get  our 
fill." 

"  Do  you  think  the  Yankees  will  fight  ?  "  asked 
an  anxious- faced  boy.  "Brother  belongs  to  the 
Minute  Men,  and  he  is  afraid  there  will  be  no  fight- 
ing; says  the  Yankees  will  run  like  sheep." 

"  Don't  let  your  brother  worry,"  said  Reel,  with 
a  laugh,  "  they  will  not  run  half  fast  enough  to  suit 
him.  But  there  is  the  bell,  boys,  and  if  the  Yankees 
are  as  tough  as  my  Greek  and  Latin,  I  for  one  don't 
want  to  meet  them." 


LAWRENCE  TAKES  A  STAND  149 

At  this  the  boys  all  laughed,  and  trooped  into  the 
schoolroom.  But  from  that  day  Lawrence  noticed 
that  he  was  avoided  by  the  Southern  element  of  the 
school.  Boys  he  knew  well  would  pass  without 
speaking.  He  met  sinister  glances,  and  contemptu- 
ous looks.  All  this  was  galling  to  his  proud  spirit, 
but  as  no  real  insult  was  offered,  he  could  do 
nothing. 

Lawrence  was  not  the  only  one  who  suffered  from 
ostracism.  One  day  he  met  Lola  Laselle  on  the 
street;  she  was  wiping  tears  from  her  eyes,  and 
Lawrence  saw  she  had  been  crying  bitterly. 

"Why,  Miss  Lola,  what  is  the  matter?"  he  asked, 
much  concerned.  "  Has  any  one  hurt  you  ?  " 

"  It  's  that  mean  Dorothy  Hamilton,"  she  sobbed; 
"you  know  she  and  I  have  always  been  the  best 
of  friends." 

"  Yes,  I  know,"  said  Lawrence.  "  Bosom  friends, 
I  believe;  had  no  secrets  from  one  another." 

"  Well,  what  do  you  think?  "  continued  Lola.  "  I 
met  her  just  now,  and  she  told  me  never  to  speak 
to  her  again ;  that  my  father  and  brother  were  Lin- 
colnites,  and  that  I  should  go  and  associate  with  the 
Dutch,  where  I  belonged.  And  she  lied.  Father  is 
no  Lincolnite ;  he  voted  for  Douglas." 

"I  hope  your  father  and  brother  are  for  the 
Union,"  said  Lawrence. 

"Yes,  they  are,  and  that  is  the  reason  Dorothy 
called  them  Lincolnites.  Are  you  for  the  Union?" 


150  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

"  Now,  and  forever/'  answered  Lawrence. 

"Oh!  goody!  goody!'*  cried  the  girl.  "Now  I 
wonder  what  Dorothy  will  have  to  say !  " 

"  What  has  Dorothy  got  to  do  with  my  being  for 
the  Union?"  asked  Lawrence,  a  little  puzzled. 

"  Why,  she  told  me  —  but,  my !  that 's  a  secret.  I 
promised  never  to  tell." 

"  I  thought  you  and  Dorothy  had  quarrelled ;  that 
she  had  cut  you  cold.  Promises  ought  not  to  hold 
in  such  cases."  Lawrence's  logic  was  faulty,  but 
he  wanted  to  get  at  the  secret. 

"  I  don't  care  if  I  do  tell,  the  mean  thing,"  ex- 
claimed Lola,  throwing  all  scruples  to  the  winds. 
"She  said  you  were  the  nicest  boy  she  knew,  and 
that  she  had  set  her  cap  for  you,  and  that  she  was 
going  to  marry  you  some  day." 

"  Now,  I  call  that  right  nice  in  Dorothy,"  said 
Lawrence.  "Let  's  see,  she  is  as  much  as  thirteen; 
but  I  can  afford  to  wait,  for  Dorothy  is  really  a  very 
pretty  girl." 

"I  know  of  lots  prettier,"  replied  Lola  with  a 
curl  of  the  lip. 

"And  Miss  Lola  Laselle  is  one  of  them,  I  sup- 
pose," said  Lawrence,  teasingly. 

"  Now,  Lawrence  Middleton,  you  are  making  fun 
of  me,  and  I  don't  like  you,"  and  Lawrence  saw  the 
little  chin  quiver,  and  the  tears  gather  in  her  eyes. 

He    saw    that    he    had    hurt    her    feelings,    and 


LAWRENCE  TAKES  A  STAND  151 

instantly  repented.  "  There,  Lola,  I  was  only  fool- 
ing/' he  made  haste  to  reply.  "  The  first  time  I  ever 
saw  you,  I  not  only  thought  you  were  one  of  the 
prettiest,  but  one  of  the  kindest-hearted  little  girls 
I  ever  saw." 

Lola  looked  puzzled.  "The  first  time  I  ever  re- 
member seeing  you,  was  at  a  party,"  she  answered. 
"  I  danced  with  you,  and  thought  you  a  very  nice 
little  boy." 

"  Thank  you,  for  the  compliment,  but  it  was  not 
at  the  party;  it  was  before  that." 

Lola  looked  more  puzzled  than  ever.  "  I  never 
remember  seeing  you  before  the  party,"  she  said. 
"Where  was  it?" 

"  It 's  a  secret." 

"I  love  secrets." 

"  But  you  will  tell,  you  have  just  told  me  one  of 
Dorothy's  secrets." 

"  You  made  me,  you  mean  thing,  but  I  will  never 
tell  yours,  Lawrence,  cross  my  heart  I  won't." 

"  Do  you  remember  that  four  years  ago  last  fall, 
you  came  down  the  Missouri  River  in  a  steamboat?  " 

"  Yes,  I  remember  that.  Mother  and  I  had  been 
to  St.  Joseph  visiting.  It  was  an  awful  poky  trip. 
We  got  off  of  the  boat  at  Jefferson  City,  and  came 
the  rest  of  the  way  on  the  cars." 

"  There  was  a  little  boy  on  that  boat,"  continued 
Lawrence,  "who  had  only  deck  passage,  and  not 


152  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

knowing  any  better,  he  wandered  into  the  cabin, 
and  received  a  cuff  from  the  mate  which  sent  him 
rolling." 

"  Yes,  I  remember  that,  but—" 

"  Hold  on,  and  let  me  tell  the  rest,  first,"  broke  in 
Lawrence.  "  A  certain  little  girl  saw  the  blow,  and 
she  stamped  her  foot,  and  shook  her  tiny  fist  at  the 
mate,  and  cried :  '  You  bad,  bad  man  to  strike  a 
'ittleboy!'" 

"Lawrence  Middleton,  how  did  you  know  this?" 
cried  Lola  in  astonishment.  "My!  how  mamma 
did  shake  me ! " 

"That  is  not  all,"  continued  Lawrence.  "The 
little  girl  came  up  to  the  boy,  and  said :  '  I  am  sorry, 
"ittle  boy ;  did  the  bad  man  hurt  you  ?  ' 

"Lawrence  Middleton,  tell  me  this  minute  how 
you  know  this,"  exclaimed  Lola,  all  excitement. 

"  I  was  that  little  boy." 

"Lawrence  Middleton,  you  are  joking!" 

"  Not  at  all.  How  did  I  know  this,  if  I  was  not 
there?  I  knew  you  the  moment  I  saw  you  at  that 
party  four  years  ago,  and  that  is  the  reason  I  sought 
an  introduction.  I  meant  to  tell  you  sometime,  but 
not  as  soon  as  this." 

"  How  did  you  come  to  take  deck  passage  ?  "  she 
asked,  wonderingly. 

"The  story  is  a  short  one,"  replied  Lawrence. 
"  My  father  died  in  Kansas,  and  before  he  died,  he 
made  me  promise  to  come  to  my  uncle  Alfred.  Just 


LAWRENCE  TAKES  A  STAND  153 

before  I  was  to  take  passage  my  money  was  stolen, 
or  the  same  as  stolen,  and  I  only  had  enough  left  to 
pay  deck  passage/' 

Lola  clapped  her  hands  and  fairly  danced.  "  How 
nice !  "  she  cried.  "  It  Js  just  like  a  story  book." 

"  I  did  n't  think  it  very  nice  at  the  time,"  replied 
Lawrence.  "The  only  bright  thing  in  the  whole 
trip  to  me  was  your  sympathy,  little  girl/' 

"  Little  girl !  little  girl !  "  mimicked  Lola,  drawing 
herself  up  to  her  full  height.  "  I  will  let  you  know, 
sir,  I  am  going  on  thirteen,  most  as  old  as  Dorothy 
Hamilton." 

"Pardon  me!  I  meant  the  little  girl  who  took 
my  part.  Do  you  blame  me  for  thinking  her  one  of 
the  sweetest  and  best  little  girls  I  ever  saw?  And 
Lola,  I  have  not  changed  my  mind  much  in  four 
years,"  and  laughing,  he  bade  her  good-day,  and  left 
her  before  she  had  time  to  reply. 

The  little  girl's  face  was  rosy,  and  she  tripped 
away  as  lightly  as  if  she  had  never  quarrelled  with 
Dorothy  Hamilton. 

As  fate  would  have  it,  Lawrence  had  not  gone 
two  blocks  before  he  met  this  same  Dorothy  Ham- 
ilton. Although  but  a  few  months  older,  she  was 
a  much  larger  girl  than  Lola  Laselle.  She  had  dark, 
lustrous  eyes  and  a  wealth  of  brown  hair  in  which 
there  were  glints  of  gold.  Her  features  were  quite 
regular,  and  she  gave  promise  of  great  beauty  when 
she  should  grow  into  womanhood. 


154  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

No  sooner  did  she  see  Lawrence  than  she  cried: 
"  Lawrence  Middleton,  I  am  so  glad  to  see  you,  for 
I  have  just  heard  something  about  you  that  I  can't 
believe  —  I  won't  believe;  tell  me  it  is  not  true." 

"  What  in  the  world  is  it  ?  "  asked  Lawrence  pre- 
tending great  surprise ;  "  that  I  have  robbed  a  bank, 
or  murdered  my  grandmother?" 

"Oh!  worse  than  that." 

"Worse  than  that?    Stealing  chickens,  then." 

"  Much  worse.  I  heard  —  I  heard  you  were  a 
Black  Republican ;  that  you  were  against  the  South, 
and  for  Lincoln." 

"  Perfectly  awful !  "  said  Lawrence  drawing  down 
his  face.  "  Now,  if  I  had  only  stolen  chickens  — " 

"  I  knew  it  was  a  lie,  I  knew  it  was  a  lie,"  broke 
in  the  girl,  with  a  radiant  face.  "How  I  hate  the  old 
flag.  Do  you  know  what  I  did  this  morning?" 

"  How  should  I  know  ?  Not  anything  as  awful  as 
I  am  accused  of,  I  hope." 

"  I  spit  on  the  Yankee  flag,  and  then  trampled  it 
in  the  mud.  I  tell  you  I  stamped  hard." 

"  I  am  sorry  for  that,"  replied  Lawrence  gravely. 

"Sorry?  —  why?"  asked  the  girl  in  surprise. 

"  Because  the  flag  you  tried  -to  dishonor  is  not  a 
Yankee  flag.  It  is  the  flag  of  our  country,  of  both 
North  and  South.  It  is  the  flag  under  which  you 
and  I  were  born,  and  we  should  reverence  it." 

"Then  it  is  all  true  what  I  heard,"  she  cried. 
"Lawrence  Middleton,  I  despise  you;  you  are  a 


LAWRENCE  TAKES  A  STAND  155 

traitor  to  the  South.  Go  and  consort  with  the  low- 
down  Dutch  they  say  you  have  taken  up  with/* 

"Germans,"  corrected  Lawrence. 

"  Germans  or  Dutch  —  what 's  the  difference? 
They  are  a  low-down  set,"  she  cried,  with  flashing 
eyes.  "  I  am  disappointed  in  you,  Lawrence  Mid- 
dleton.  I  thought  you  were  a  man.  I  never  want 
to  see  you  again.  Never  speak  to  me." 

"You  seem  to  be  cutting  all  your  old  acquaint- 
ances to-day,  Miss  Dorothy." 

"  Why,  how  do  you  know  ?  " 

"  I  met  a  little  girl  up  the  street  a  few  moments 
ago,  and  she  was  crying  bitterly  because  her  bosom 
friend  had  cut  her  cold." 

"I  suppose  you  mean  Lola  Laselle.  Of  course 
you  comforted  her,"  she  replied,  scornfully. 

"  Sure,  I  told  her  it  was  only  jealousy  that  made 
you  act  as  you  did,  because  she  is  prettier  than  you," 
Lawrence  answered  maliciously. 

"  Perhaps  her  style  of  beauty  pleases  you  with 
your  low  tastes,"  snapped  Dorothy.  "  Never  speak 
to  me  again ! "  And  with  this  parting  shot  she  left 
him. 

But  as  she  turned  to  go,  Lawrence  saw  that  her 
eyes  were  filled  with  tears.  They  were  tears  of 
anger,  mortification,  and  —  well,  that  was  a  secret 
with  Dorothy. 


CHAPTER   XI 

THE  SWORD  OF  BUNKER  HILL 

TO  the  Germans  of  St.  Louis  belongs  the  honor 
of  saving  Missouri  to  the  Union.  It  needed 
a  Frank  P.  Blair  and  a  General  Lyon  to  lead 
them,  but  without  their  help  these  two  men  would 
have  been  powerless.  True  to  their  adopted  coun- 
try, the  Germans  never  wavered  in  their  allegiance 
to  the  Union.  The  flag  they  had  sworn  to  uphold 
was  their  flag,  and  they  knew  no  other.  Well  might 
the  native  American  hang  his  head  in  shame,  when 
he  turned  against  the  flag  under  which  he  was  born, 
and  saw  it  upheld  with  such  devotion  by  citizens  of 
foreign  birth. 

During  the  political  campaign  of  the  fall  before, 
Frank  P.  Blair  had  been  instrumental  in  forming  the 
Germans  into  Wide-Awake  companies.  After  the 
election,  he  kept  these  organizations  intact,  and 
turned  them  into  semi-military  companies.  Thus  he 
had  the  nucleus  of  an  army  at  hand.  Blair  was 
never  deceived  by  the  illusive  cry  of  peace.  He 
knew  the  Southern  people,  how  deadly  in  earnest 
they  were,  and  felt  that  war  would  come.  There- 
fore he  was  among  the  first  to  prepare  for  it. 
He  was  to  Missouri  what  General  Nelson  was  to 
Kentucky. 

156 


THE  SWORD  OF  BUNKER  HILL  157 

The  hatred  of  the  secessionists  toward  the  Ger- 
mans was  intense.  They  denounced  them  as  beer- 
drinkers,  and  above  all  as  atheists,  haters  of  God 
and  religion,  especially  of  the  Catholic  Church. 
Thus  in  St.  Louis  the  religious  question,  as  well  as 
the  slavery  question  entered  into  the  controversy. 
The  secessionists  made  the  most  of  this  condition, 
and  succeeded  in  turning  the  majority  of  the  Irish 
in  the  city  to  the  Confederate  side.  But  not  all, 
for  many  a  gallant  Irishman  saw  through  the  ruse, 
and  remained  true  to  the  Union. 

Attending  the  same  school  as  Lawrence,  was  a 
German  boy  named  Carl  Mayer.  He  was  a  bright 
scholar,  and  spoke  English  as  fluently  as  a  native. 
He  and  Lawrence  were  great  friends.  He  had 
taught  Lawrence  the  German  language,  so  that  at 
the  outbreak  of  the  war  Lawrence  was  a  fine  German 
scholar.  This  proved  of  great  service  to  him  in  the 
work  he  was  called  upon  to  do. 

Early  in  January,  Carl  left  school,  as  his  proud 
spirit  could  not  brook  the  foul  insults  he  continually 
heard  hurled  against  the  German  people  by  the  boys 
of  Southern  proclivities. 

Shortly  after  Lawrence  had  come  out  boldly  for 
the  Union,  he  met  Carl  one  day,  the  latter  seeming 
overjoyed  to  see  him. 

"I  hear  you  are  for  the  Union,"  he  said. 

"Every  time,"  answered  Lawrence,  shaking  Carl 
by  the  hand  heartily. 


158  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI   . 

"  How  would  you  like  to  join  a  company  of  Home 
Guards?"  asked  Carl.  "You  know  the  Southern 
boys  are  forming  companies  they  call  Minute  Men. 
Frank  Blair  is  forming  four  regiments  of  Home 
Guards,  mostly  Germans,  but  with  a  fair  sprinkling 
of  Americans.  In  some  of  the  companies  are  a  great 
many  boys  from  sixteen  to  twenty  years  of  age.  I 
belong  to  a  company.  There  are  quite  a  number  of 
Americans  in  the  company,  and  we  want  one  of  the 
lieutenants  to  be  an  American.  If  you  will  join,  I 
believe  you  can  get  the  position." 

"  Am  I  not  too  young  for  an  officer  ?  "  asked  Law- 
rence. 

"Rather  young,  but  you  would  readily  pass  for 
eighteen.  The  company  meets  to-night  to  organize. 
Blair  will  be  there.  What  do  you  say?  Come  and 
join  us." 

After  a  little  consideration,  Lawrence  agreed  to 
attend  the  meeting  that  night,  but  whether  he  would 
join  or  not,  —  he  must  think  that  over. 

When  Lawrence  repaired  to  the  hall  to  his  sur- 
prise he  was  stopped  at  the  door  by  a  sentinel  who 
asked  him  to  give  his  name  and  residence.  He  did 
so,  and  the  sentinel  shook  his  head,  saying  he  could 
not  enter  unless  some  one  would  vouch  for  him. 

"Vouch  for  what?"  asked  Lawrence. 

"  That  you  are  for  the  Union  and  the  flag,"  was 
the  answer.  "  Is  there  any  one  here  you  know  ?  " 

"  I  came  here  by  the  invitation  of  Carl  Mayer," 


THE  SWORD  OF  BUNKER  HILL  159 

answered  Lawrence,  somewhat  nettled,  "  but  if  you 
don't  want  me  I  can  go  away." 

"  Carl  Mayer,  das  ist  goot,"  said  the  sentinel. 

Carl  was  called,  and  readily  vouched  for  the 
newcomer.  Lawrence  was  told  their  portals  had 
to  be  very  carefully  guarded,  to  prevent  the  en- 
trance of  spies.  "No  one  is  admitted,"  said  Carl, 
"unless  he  is  known  to  be  a  true  Union  man." 

Lawrence  found  about  a  hundred  present,  most  of 
them  stalwart  young  men,  and  a  few  boys  not  older 
than  he.  No  sooner  was  it  known  who  Lawrence 
was,  than  he  was  received  with  rousing  cheers.  To 
get  a  Middleton  in  their  ranks,  one  who  moved  in 
the  most  aristocratic  circle  of  the  city,  was  some- 
thing not  to  be  overlooked.  Lawrence  saw  that  they 
already  considered  him  as  one  of  them,  yet  he  had 
come  almost  decided  not  to  join,  for  fear  his  uncle 
would  not  like  it.  But  Frank  Blair  made  a  speech, 
and  before  he  was  half  through,  Lawrence's  youth- 
ful heart  was  fired,  and  he  resolved  that  come  what 
would,  the  day  for  silence  had  passed,  that  he  would 
not  only  be  for  the  Union,  but  would  fight  for  it,  if 
necessary;  and  he  was  among  the  first  to  sign  the 
roll. 

But  the  new  company  must  have  officers,  and 
when  it  came  to  the  selection  of  a  second  lieutenant, 
Carl  Mayer  arose  and  nominated  Lawrence  Middle- 
ton,  making  a  speech  in  his  favor  which  was  re- 
ceived with  cheers. 


160  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

Lawrence  pleaded  his  youth  and  inexperience,  and 
declared  he  was  perfectly  content  to  serve  in  the 
ranks. 

"You  are  young,"  said  Blair,  "but  you  have  all 
the  appearance  of  being  at  least  eighteen.  I  am  also 
told  that  you  speak  German  fluently,  which  will  be 
a  great  help  to  you  in  this  company;  not  only  that, 
but  your  example  may  influence  some  of  your  as- 
sociates to  declare  for  the  Union." 

This  decided  the  question,  and  Lawrence  was  duly 
elected  Second  Lieutenant,  to  the  great  joy  of  Carl 
Mayer,  who  was  made  a  sergeant.  After  the  elec- 
tion of  officers,  the  company  was  put  through  a 
short  drill  by  an  army  officer  present,  and  then  dis- 
missed with  the  understanding  that  they  were  to 
meet  three  times  a  week  for  drill. 

Lawrence  and  Carl  left  the  hall  together.  They 
had  much  to  talk  about,  and  without  a  single 
thought  of  danger  they  were  walking  along,  when, 
as  they  were  passing  a  dark  alley,  two  men  sprang 
out  and  attacked  them.  Although  taken  by  surprise, 
the  two  boys  defended  themselves  valiantly,  and  soon 
put  their  assailants  to  flight.  But  the  skirmish  had 
left  marks  on  them.  Lawrence  was  nursing  a  sore 
head,  and  Carl  had  a  bloody  nose,  and  a  black  eye. 

"  If  I  mistake  not,"  said  Lawrence,  "  the  fellow 
that  went  for  me  was  Benton  Shelley.  But  if  I  meet 
him  to-morrow  I  shall  know,  for  I  gave  him  a  good 
one  right  in  the  eye ;  it  put  him  out  of  business." 


THE  SWORD  OF  BUNKER  HILL  161 

"  I  don't  know  who  attacked  me,"  said  Carl,  "  but 
he  was  a  good  one.  He  got  my  nose  and  eye  all 
right/'  and  he  carefully  felt  of  the  injured  members. 
"Mercy!  my  nose  is  as  big  as  two  noses  already. 
I  shall  be  a  sight  by  to-morrow.  But  I  gave  him  a 
good  one,  right  on  the  face,  and  it  bowled  him  over 
like  a  tenpin.  But  his  legs  were  good,  for  he  ran 
like  a  deer  when  he  got  up." 

"How  do  you  suppose  those  fellows  knew  we 
were  coming  this  way?"  asked  Lawrence. 

"  Spied  on  us,"  answered  Carl.  "  There  are  spies 
watching  every  meeting  we  hold.  That  is  why  we 
have  to  be  so  careful.  I  bet  every  boy  in  the  acad- 
emy will  know  to-morrow  that  you  have  joined  the 
Home  Guards.  Lawrence,  I  bet  you  leave  that 
school  before  a  week." 

This  set  Lawrence  thinking.  It  was  near  mid- 
night when  he  got  home.  He  met  his  cousin  in  the 
hall,  who  looked  at  him  closely. 

"  What  's  the  matter?  "  he  asked.  "  You  look  as 
if  you  had  been  in  a  skirmish." 

"  I  was  attacked  by  a  footpad  as  I  was  coming 
home,"  answered  Lawrence,  "  but  I  beat  him  off 
without  much  trouble." 

"Which  shows  that  young  boys  like  you 
should  n't  be  out  so  late.  I  think  I  shall  have  father 
look  after  your  comings  and  goings.  I  am  sus- 
picious, my  lad.  Beware  how  far  you  go."  Thus 
saying  Edward  passed  into  the  library;  and  when 


16*  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

he  opened  the  door,  late  as  it  was,  Lawrence  saw 
that  his  uncle  was  up,  and  with  him  were  four  gen- 
tlemen. One  of  them  he  knew;  it  was  General  D. 
M.  Frost,  commander  of  the  Missouri  State  Militia. 

Once  in  his  room,  Lawrence  began  to  reflect  very 
seriously  on  what  he  had  done.  The  warning  given 
to  him  by  his  cousin,  General  Frost's  visit  to  his 
uncle,  all  meant  that  his  uncle  had  given  up  all  hopes 
of  the  preservation  of  the  Union,  and  was  to  cast 
his  lot  with  the  South.  Lawrence  felt  that  by  join- 
ing Blair's  Home  Guards,  he  had  burned  all  his 
bridges  behind  him;  but  he  was  not  sorry,  though 
what  he  had  done  might  make  him  an  outcast  from 
his  uncle's  home. 

Then  the  relations  between  him  and  his  cousin 
Edward  had  become  strained.  They  had  always 
been  the  best  of  friends,  like  two  brothers,  but  Ed- 
ward was  a  regular  fire-eater.  He  had  refused  to 
return  to  Yale,  where  he  would  have  been  graduated 
in  a  few  months,  saying  that  life  among  the  Yankees 
was  unbearable.  "And  to  think  of  those  cowardly 
mudsills  whipping  the  South!"  he  would  say: 
"  Why,  I  challenged  half  a  dozen  of  them  for  their 
insults,  and  they  laughed  at  me.  The  only  thing  I 
am  ashamed  of  is  that  I  have  Yankee  blood  in  me." 

He  had  joined  the  militia  under  General  Frost,  and 
was  a  close  friend  of  Basil  Duke,  Green,  and  the 
others  who  were  organizing  the  Minute  Men.  He 
had  tried  hard  to  get  Lawrence  to  go  with  him,  and 
became  quite  angry  when  Lawrence  refused. 


THE  SWORD  OF  BUNKER  HILL  163 

"  I  am  for  the  Union,"  said  Lawrence,  "  and  so 
is  your  father,  so  I  do  not  see  why  you  should  be 
angry  at  me/' 

"  Father  is  for  the  South,  which  you  are  not/' 
said  Edward.  "He  is  foolish  enough  to  think  the 
Union  can  be  preserved;  that  the  North  will  grant 
justice  to  the  slave  States,  and  that  they  will  come 
back.  He  will  learn  better  soon,  and  then  he  will 
be  heart  and  soul  with  the  South." 

Lawrence  sighed,  for  he  felt  that  Edward  spoke 
only  the  truth.  "  And/'  continued  Edward,  "  you 
had  better  get  over  your  Yankee  notions,  and  that 
mighty  quick,  or  this  house  will  be  altogether  too 
hot  to  hold  you." 

"We  will  not  quarrel,  Edward/'  said  Lawrence; 
"  but  like  your  father,  I  hope  there  will  be  no  war, 
that  it  will  be  settled  before  it  comes  to  that/' 

"It  will  never  be  settled  until  it  is  settled  right, 
and  that  is  when  the  South  is  a  great  and  glorious 
nation  by  itself/'  declared  Edward,  with  much 
warmth. 

Lawrence  thought  of  all  this,  as  he  sat  in  his 
room  reflecting  on  the  events  of  the  day,  with  sor- 
row in  his  heart.  If  he  had  known  what  was  taking 
place  in  the  library,  that  sorrow  would  have  been 
increased  tenfold. 

General  D.  M.  Frost,  like  Mr.  Middleton,  was  of 
Northern  birth,  but  he  was  thoroughly  in  accord 
with  Governor  Jackson  in  his  endeavors  to  drag 
Missouri  out  of  the  Union. 


164  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

As  one  of  the  representative  men  of  the  city,  Gen- 
eral Frost  had  called  on  Mr.  Middleton  to  find  out 
his  exact  sentiments,  and  see  if  he  would  not  aid  in 
organizing  the  militia. 

"  I  have  been  for  the  Union,  and  am  still  for  it,  if 
there  is  any  hope  of  saving  it,"  said  Mr.  Middleton, 
"  but  if  all  hope  is  gone,  of  course,  I  am  with  the 
South." 

"There  is  not  the  slightest  hope,"  said  Frost; 
"the  Southern  States  are  out  for  good.  They 
would  not  come  back,  if  allowed  to  dictate  their  own 
terms.  They  are  sick  and  tired  of  being  tied  to  the 
radical  North.  The  buffoon,  smutty  Lincoln  can 
never  be  President  of  the  South ;  and  I,  for  one,  am 
glad  of  it.  The  only  question  for  Missouri  to  de- 
cide is,  where  will  she  stand  ?  Will  it  be  with  the 
North,  or  her  sister  Southern  States  ?  " 

"If  it  comes  to  that,"  said  Mr.  Middleton,  "I 
say  the  South  every  time.  But,  General,  does  not 
this  mean  war?" 

"  Let  it  come,"  exclaimed  Frost ;  "  do  you  think 
for  a  moment  that  the  Yankees,  and  these  miserable 
Dutchmen  can  stand  before  our  gallant  Southern 
boys  ?  Not  for  a  moment !  They  will  wipe  them  off 
the  face  of  the  earth." 

"  But  war  will  be  horrible,"  said  Mr.  Middleton. 
"  Remember,  General,  that  we  are  Northern-born, 
that  we  shall  be  warring  against  our  kith  and  kin. 


THE  SWORD  OF  BUNKER  HILL  165 

Households  will  be  divided,  even  my  own  house.  I 
have  a  nephew  here  whom  I  love  almost  as  a  son,  yet 
I  am  almost  sure,  if  war  comes,  he  will  be  for  the  old 
flag." 

"Yours  will  not  be  the  only  divided  household, 
Mr.  Middleton.  Thank  God  it  is  only  a  nephew. 
Yes,  as  you  say,  war  is  terrible,  and  it  will  come  if 
the  North  will  not  let  the  South  go  in  peace,  for 
go  she  will." 

Much  more  was  said,  but  when  General  Frost 
and  his  companions  left,  Mr.  Middleton  was  com- 
mitted to  the  Southern  cause. 

The  next  day  was  an  anxious  one  to  Lawrence. 
He  resolved  to  tell  his  uncle  all,  and  abide  by  the 
consequences,  but  his  trial  came  sooner  than  he  ex- 
pected. Along  in  the  afternoon,  his  cousin  came 
into  his  room,  wildly  excited,  and  white  with  rage. 

"Is  it  true,"  he  demanded,  "that  you  joined  one 
of  Frank  Blair's  Dutch  companies  last  night?" 

"  Who  told  you  I  had  joined  one  of  Blair's  com- 
panies of  Home  Guards?"  coolly  asked  Lawrence. 

"That  is  not  the  question,"  angrily  replied  Ed- 
ward. "  The  question  is,  did  you,  or  did  you  not 
join?" 

"I  deny  your  right  to  question  me,  but  tell  me 
who  told  you,  and  I  will  answer,  not  before." 

"  Benton  Shelley  did.  He  says  he  knows  it  to  be 
a  fact." 


166  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

"Have  you  seen  Shelley  to-day?" 

"Of  course.  How  could  he  have  told  me,  if  I 
had  not  seen  him?" 

"  Is  he  out,  or  did  you  see  him  at  fiome  ?  " 

"  Why  this  beating  around  the  bush?  But  I  saw 
him  at  home.  He  met  with  a  slight  accident  last 
night." 

"  Had  a  black  eye,  did  n't  he?  " 

"  How  did  you  know  that  ?  "  asked  his  cousin, 
somewhat  astonished. 

"  Because  it  was  Benton  Shelley  who  waylaid  me 
last  night  like  a  footpad.  I  was  almost  sure  it  was 
he,  now  I  know.  I  will  now  answer  your  question. 
I  did  join  one  of  Frank  Blair's  companies  of  Home 
Guards,  and  I  do  not  see  why  I  don't  have  as  good 
a  right  to  join  the  Home  Guards,  as  you  have  to 
join  the  Minute  Men." 

"  That  settles  it,"  stormed  Edward,  "  this  roof  is 
not  large  enough  to  shelter  both.  Either  you  or  I 
leave  it.  You  are  an  ingrate,  an  — " 

"  Stop  right  where  you  are,  Edward,  call  no 
names.  It  is  not  seemly  that  we  should  quarrel. 
This  is  a  conflict  of  principles,  not  of  individuals. 
I  am  for  the  old  flag,  you  for  the  South.  Neither 
of  us  can  help  being  what  we  are.  Let  us  part  in 
peace.  As  for  me,  I  cannot  come  between  father 
and  son.  I  leave  this  roof  to-morrow,  so  be  con- 
tent." 

This  answer  sobered  Edward  a  little.    "  Go !  "  he 


THE  SWORD  OF  BUNKER  HILL  167 

exclaimed.  "Go,  and  joy  go  with  you.  I  believe 
you  always  were  an  Abolitionist." 

"  We  will  not  discuss  slavery,"  replied  Lawrence 
calmly.  "I  am  content  to  leave  it  where  it  is;  but 
when  slavery  raises  its  hand  to  destroy  the  govern- 
ment, I  am  against  slavery." 

"I  hate  the  old  flag,  I  despise  the  North  and 
everything  in  it ;  I  long  to  see  the  flag  of  the  Con- 
federacy unfurled  over  this  State ;  and  mark  you,  it 
will  be.  All  the  Frank  Blairs  and  all  the  Dutch  in 
the  world  can't  prevent  it,"  passionately  exclaimed 
Edward. 

"And  to  help  to  prevent  it  is  the  reason  I  am 
against  you,"  replied  Lawrence. 

"And  being  against  me,  you  are  against  father, 
against  all  of  us.  You  are  a  traitor  to  those  who 
have  befriended  you,  cared  for  you.  I  hate  the 
sight  of  you.  I  do  not  see  how  you  can  look  any  of 
us  in  the  face." 

Without  waiting  for  Lawrence  to  reply,  Edward 
went  out,  and  slammed  the  door  behind  him.  Law- 
rence was  glad,  for  there  was  a  hot  reply  on  the 
end  of  his  tongue. 

"  But  Edward  was  right,"  he  thought,  "  I  am  a 
beggar,  a  dependant  on  his  father's  bounty.  I  see 
it  now.  I  never  thought  of  it  before.  So  kindly 
have  they  used  me,  I  have  felt  as  one  of  the  family. 
It  is  a  poor  requital  I  am  giving  them,  but,  as  God 
is  my  helper,  I  can  do  no  differently.  Yet  it  is  hard, 


168  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

so  hard,  to  grieve  them  so,"  and  Lawrence  was  not 
ashamed  of  the  tears  which  fell,  fast  and  hot,  from 
his  eyes. 

His  uncle  was  away  for  the  evening,  and  he  could 
not  see  him  until  morning,  but  with  a  sad  heart,  he 
set  about  packing  his  things.  Not  another  day  would 
he  be  a  dependant  on  his  uncle's  bounty.  For  the 
future  he  had  no  fears.  He  was  young  and  strong, 
he  would  win  his  way.  He  slept  but  little,  think- 
ing of  what  he  would  do.  He  did  not  know  that 
for  the  next  four  years  his  career  was  already 
marked  out,  that  they  would  be  spent  amid  the 
shock  and  din  of  battle. 

Breakfast  was  a  constrained  meal.  His  uncle  and 
aunt  were  not  present.  When  Lawrence  came  in, 
Edward  arose  and  left  the  table. 

He  did  not  have  to  ask  to  see  his  uncle,  for  a  mes- 
sage came  from  him  that  he  would  like  to  see  Law- 
rence in  the  library.  Mr.  Middleton  was  seated  by  a 
table  toying  with  a  paperweight.  His  face  looked  sad 
and  care-worn.  Lawrence  thought  he  had  never 
seen  him  look  so  old.  He  did  not  speak  as  Law- 
rence entered,  but  motioned  him  to  a  chair.  Law- 
rence took  the  proffered  seat,  and  for  a  full  minute 
neither  spoke.  The  only  sound  that  Lawrence  heard 
was  the  beating  of  his  own  heart,  and  it  throbbed 
painfully. 

At  length  Mr.  Middleton  said  slowly,  "So  you 
and  Edward  have  quarrelled." 


THE  SWORD  OF  BUNKER  HILL  169 

"Not  exactly  quarrelled,  uncle,  but  when  he 
found  I  had  joined  the  Home  Guards  he  was  fright- 
fully angry,  accused  me  of  being  a  traitor  to  you, 
and  said,  he  and  I  could  never  live  under  the  same 
roof." 

"Yes,  I  know,  Edward  has  told  me,"  replied  his 
uncle  coldly. 

Lawrence  could  stand  it  no  longer.  He  threw 
himself  down  by  his  uncle's  side.  "  Uncle !  Uncle !  " 
he  cried  pleadingly,  "forgive  me !  I  ought  to  have 
told  you,  but  I  just  had  to  join.  Uncle,  you  have 
been  so  good  to  me.  I  wish  I  could  be  like  Edward, 
but  I  cannot.  I  cannot  fight  for  slavery  and  against 
the  old  flag.  I  must  leave  you,  uncle.  I  must  not 
come  between  you  and  Edward." 

Mr.  Middleton  was  visibly  moved.  "  Lawrence," 
he  exclaimed,  brokenly,  "to  part  with  you  is  like 
parting  with  one  of  my  own  children.  You  have 
been  a  good  boy,  and  I  have  had  high  hopes  as  to 
your  future;  but  it  is  best  that  you  go  for  a  time. 
I  shall  not  lose  sight  of  you,  and  only  hope  that  in 
time  you  may  see  differently,  and  come  back  to  us. 
I  am  thankful  you  kept  your  temper  in  talking  with 
Edward.  I  shudder  at  what  might  have  been,  if 
you  had  been  as  hot-headed  as  he." 

"  I  do  not  think  anything  could  induce  me  to 
raise  a  hand  against  him,"  said  Lawrence  earnestly, 
"  he  is  the  same  as  a  brother  to  me." 

"Thank  God  for  that,"  exclaimed  Mr.  Middle- 


170  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

ton  fervently.  "Oh,  this  miserable,  this  unnatural 
strife !  Lawrence,  like  you,  I  have  had  a  battle  with 
myself.  Do  you  think  it  has  not  caused  me  pain  to 
give  up  my  country,  the  flag  I  once  so  loved  ?  But 
the  decision  is  made.  As  long  as  there  were  hopes 
of  justice  being  granted  the  South,  I  was  for  the 
Union,  but  the  fanatics  of  the  North  would  not  have 
it  so.  The  South  is  out  for  good ;  Missouri's  place 
is  with  the  South.  Henceforth  the  Confederate 
States  of  America  is  my  country;  the  Stars  and 
Stripes  is  to  me  a  foreign  flag." 

"To  me/'  said  Lawrence,  "the  old  flag  repre- 
sents everything  dear,  but  that  will  make  no  differ- 
ence in  my  love  to  you  and  yours.  I  believe  you 
have  decided  according  to  what  you  think  right.  I 
shall  always  think  so.  And,  uncle,  let  us  part  in 
peace.  Whatever  may  come,  let  there  be  no  war,  no 
hate,  between  us  personally." 

"  Peace  it  shall  be,  my  boy.  You  know  the  his- 
tory of  that  sword  there,"  and  he  pointed  to  an  old 
sword  hanging  in  a  conspicuous  place  on  the  wall. 

"  Yes,  uncle,  it  is  the  sword  of  which  every  Mid- 
dleton  is  so  proud,  'The  Sword  of  Bunker  Hill." 

"  Yes,  the  sword  your  great-grandfather  wore  on 
that  bloody  day.  He  was  among  the  last  to  leave 
the  trench.  A  British  soldier  sprang  over  the 
works,  and  snatched  at  a  flag.  This  sword  found 
its  way  to  his  heart,  and  seizing  the  flag,  your  great- 
grandfather bore  it  back.  Warren  fell  by  his  side. 


THE  SWORD  OF  BUNKER  HILL  171 

Ever  since,  that  sword  has  been  a  precious  heirloom 
in  the  Middleton  family,  descending  from  eldest  son 
to  eldest  son ;  but,  Lawrence,  the  succession  will  now 
be  broken/' 

Thus  speaking,  Mr.  Middleton  took  down  the 
sword  and  handed  it  to  his  astonished  nephew,  say- 
ing :  "  Take  it,  Lawrence,  it  is  rightfully  yours." 

"But  this  sword  should  go  to  Edward,"  stam- 
mered Lawrence. 

"Edward  would  despise  it;  he  despises  every- 
thing that  savors  of  the  North.  I  sometimes  think 
he  despises  me  for  being  of  Northern  birth.  More 
than  that,  this  sword  took  a  human  life  in  defence 
of  the  flag  you  love,  the  flag  that  I  repudiate,  that 
to  me  has  become  the  symbol  of  tyranny.  I  no  lon- 
ger have  a  right  to  it.  Take  it,  Lawrence,  I  know 
you  will  never  dishonor  it." 

Sinking  on  one  knee,  Lawrence  took  the  sword, 
and  reverently  pressed  it  to  his  lips,  then,  in  a  voice 
trembling  with  emotion,  said :  "  Uncle,  may  my  right 
arm  be  palsied,  if  ever  this  sword  is  tarnished  by  a 
single  act  of  mine." 

"  I  have  faith  in  you,  that  it  never  will  be,"  said 
his  uncle,  "  otherwise,  I  would  break  it  in  twain  and 
throw  it  away.'* 

Of  all  the  gifts  his  uncle  could  give  him,  Lawrence 
felt  he  had  received  the  one  he  would  value  the 
most. 

"Now,  uncle,  I  must  bid  you  farewell,"  he  said. 


172  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

"  I  never  can  forget  your  kindness.  Perhaps  in  time 
Edward  will  see  differently,  but  until  he  does,  I  can- 
not even  visit  you." 

"  If  war  really  come,"  said  Mr.  Middleton,  "  my 
home  will  be  desolate,  for  Edward  will  be  in  it, 
nothing  can  keep  him  out  of  it.  No,  Lawrence, 
much  as  I  hate  to  say  so,  as  long  as  he  is  at  home, 
you  had  better  not  visit  us;  but  surely  I  shall  see 
you;  that  is,  if  you  do  not  go  off  to  war.  One 
thing  more,  Lawrence,  if  you  are  ever  in  trouble  or 
in  need,  let  me  know.  Neither  will  I  now  send  you 
forth  penniless." 

Going  to  a  small  safe  which  stood  in  the  room, 
he  counted  out  five  hundred  dollars.  "  Here,  Law- 
rence/' said  he,  "  take  this  for  your  present  needs." 

"Uncle,  this  after  I  have  nearly  broken  your 
heart  in  doing  as  I  have  done?"  cried  Lawrence. 
"  I  cannot  take  it,  you  have  already  done  too  much." 

"Lawrence,  if  you  love  me,  as  you  say  you  do, 
take  it.  Don't  make  it  harder  for  me  than  it  is." 

Lawrence  took  the  money;  he  tried  to  thank  his 
uncle,  but  his  heart  was  too  full.  With  bowed  head, 
he  went  out  of  the  room,  and  with  him  he  carried 
that  priceless  gift,  the  Sword  of  Bunker  Hill. 


CHAPTER   XII 

A   VALUABLE   ALLY 

FROM  his  interview  with  his  uncle,  Lawrence 
went  directly  to  his  room,  finished  packing, 
and  soon  was  ready  to  leave  the  house.  But 
one  duty  remained  to  be  done  —  the  hardest  of  all  — 
that  of  bidding  farewell  to  his  Aunt'  Clara.  He 
met  his  cousin  Edward  just  coming  out  of  his 
mother's  room.  He  passed  Lawrence  with  head 
high  in  air,  and  without  speaking,  but  there  was  a 
look  of  triumph  on  his  face  which  plainly  said :  "  Go, 
you  Yankee  beggar,  and  never  come  back ! " 

As  Lawrence  entered  his  aunt's  room,  she  arose 
to  meet  him,  but  he  felt  that  her  usual  warmth  was 
lacking.  Her  face  was  tear-stained,  and  Lawrence 
saw  she  had  been  weeping  bitterly. 

"I  see  that  Edward  has  been  here,"  said  Law- 
rence, "has  he  told  you  all?" 

"  He  told  me  that  he  and  you  had  quarrelled,  that 
there  was  bitter  hate  between  you,  and  that  you  must 
leave  the  house  at  once,  never  to  enter  it  again,  or 
he  would.  Oh,  Lawrence!  Lawrence!  what  have 
you  done  thus  to  quarrel  with  my  only  son?  It  is 
a  poor  requital  you  have  given  me,  for  I  have  loved 
you  almost  as  if  you  had  been  my  own  child." 

"Aunt  Clara,"  cried  Lawrence  chokingly,  "don't 

173 


174  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

upbraid  me ;  don't  make  my  going  harder  than  it  is. 
I  have  come  to  bid  you  good-bye,  never  to  enter 
this  house  again  until  Edward  feels  differently. 
You  have  been  a  mother  to  me ;  you  have  given  me 
your  love,  and  now  you  think  me  an  ingrate.  As 
God  is  my  witness,  Aunt  Clara,  I  never  loved  this 
household  better  than  I  do  now  that  I  am  about  to 
leave  it ;  I  have  never  felt  more  grateful  to  you  all, 
for  what  you  have  done  for  me." 

"  Why  did  you  quarrel  with  Edward  then  ? " 
sobbed  his  aunt. 

"  There  is  nothing  personal  between  Edward  and 
me.  It  is  this  miserable  secession  business.  He  is 
very  angry  because  I  am  for  the  Union,  and  have 
joined  a  company  of  Home  Guards." 

"  Why  do  you  go  with  the  North  and  against  the 
South  ?  "  asked  his  aunt.  "  Your  uncle  is  of  North- 
ern birth,  like  you,  and  yet  he  is  for  the  South." 

"  Can  you  control  the  beating  of  your  own  heart, 
Aunt  Clara  ?  Can  you  by  saying,  1 1  love  the  North 
and  hate  the  South,'  make  it  so  ?  No ;  you  love  the 
South,  you  believe  it  is  right,  and  you  can  no  more 
help  it  than  you  can  help  breathing.  I  love  the 
Union,  believe  in  it,  think  that  secession  is  not  only 
wicked,  but  ruinous  to  the  South.  The  flag  of  my 
country  is  dearer  to  me  than  life.  I  must  be  true 
to  it,  even  if  those  I  love  turn  against  me." 

"Do  you  think  there  will  be  war?"  asked  his 
aunt  in  a  trembling  voice. 


A   VALUABLE  ALLY  175 

"  Yes,  and,  dear  aunt,  prepare  yourself  for  a 
greater  trial  than  has  yet  come.  There  will  be  war, 
and  Edward  will  be  one  of  the  first  to  enlist/' 

"Oh  no,  no;  I  cannot  have  it,"  cried  his  aunt, 
"  I  cannot  give  my  only  son,  even  to  my  country." 

"  Nothing  can  keep  him  from  it,"  said  Lawrence, 
"not  even  your  love.  I  know  his  nature;  he  is 
brave,  impetuous.  He  already  belongs  to  the  Min- 
ute Men ;  his  associates  are  Duke,  Green,  and  others 
as  young  and  impetuous  as  he.  These  Minute  Men 
have  sworn  to  take  Missouri  out  of  the  Union ;  they 
will  do  it  if  they  can." 

"And  you,  what  will  you  do  ?  "  asked  his  aunt. 

"  I  have,  as  I  told  you,  already  joined  a  company 
of  Home  Guards.  I  shall  fight  for  the  Union." 

"  Fight  for  the  Union,  and  against  Edward  ?  " 
gasped  his  aunt. 

"  Yes ;  but  this  I  promise,  if  I  ever  meet  him  on 
the  field  of  battle,  no  harm  will  come  to  him  if  I 
can  help  it.  I  will  not  raise  a  hand  against  him; 
no,  not  even  to  save  my  own  life." 

"Thank  God  for  that! "  sobbed  his  aunt  "But 
Lawrence,  if  war  should  come,  why  should  you  or 
Edward  go?  It  would  be  like  brother  against 
brother." 

"  And  that  is  what  it  will  be  in  thousands  of  cases, 
brother  against  brother,"  replied  Lawrence. 

"  If  war  come,  the  North,  and  the  North  alone, 
must  answer  to  God,"  exclaimed  his  aunt.  "  As  for 


176  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

you,  Lawrence,  may  you  be  forgiven  for  raising 
your  hand  against  those  who  love  you.  It  is  wise 
that  you  should  go.  If  you  remained  I  should  feel 
as  if  we  had  an  enemy  in  the  household;  but  my 
prayers  will  go  with  you,  that  you  may  be  protected, 
and  come  to  see  the  great  error  you  are  committing." 

Lawrence  reverently  raised  the  hand  of  his  aunt 
to  his  lips  and  kissed  it.  Tears  blinded  his  eyes,  and 
without  a  word,  he  turned  and  left  the  house  which 
had  sheltered  him  for  four  years;  left  those  who 
had  taken  him  in  when  homeless  and  starving,  those 
who  had  loved  and  cared  for  him.  Once  he  fal- 
tered, turned,  and  looked  back.  He  almost  regretted 
his  decision.  How  could  he  leave  them,  they  think- 
ing they  had  cherished  an  ingrate  ?  Oh !  it  was  bit- 
ter, bitter. 

He  raised  his  eyes,  and  over  the  court-house,  he 
saw  the  Stars  and  Stripes  flying.  Could  he  aid  in 
pulling  that  flag  down?  No,  never.  He  turned 
from  the  house,  and  with  resolute  footsteps  went  on. 
He  was  once  more  homeless  in  St.  Louis,  but  not 
penniless  or  friendless.  Neither  was  he  a  helpless 
child.  He  had  nearly  the  stature  of  a  man;  he  was 
stronger  than  most  men,  and  he  had  a  stout  heart. 

The  first  thing  to  do  was  to  look  up  a  suitable 
room  and  boarding-place.  This  was  not  hard  to 
find.  He  sent  a  drayman  for  his  trunk,  put  his  room 
to  rights,  and  felt  himself  at  home.  The  Sword  of 
Bunker  Hill  he  hung  over  the  head  of  his  bed.  "So 


A  VALUABLE  ALLY  177 

it  will  look  down  upon  me,"  he  said,  "  the  first  thing 
on  which  my  eyes  will  rest  when  I  open  them  in 
the  morning." 

It  was  late  in  the  afternoon,  before  he  had  every- 
thing fixed  to  his  satisfaction.  The  little  room  that 
he  had  rented  bore  little  comparison  to  the  magnifi- 
cent chamber  he  had  occupied  at  his  uncle's.  But 
now  that  was  all  past.  He  cared  little  for  the  lux- 
ury he  had  left,  but  the  loss  of  their  love,  their  re- 
spect —  that  left  a  wound  in  the  heart  that  would 
take  a  long  time  to  heal. 

The  company  of  which  he  had  been  elected  an 
officer  was  to  meet  that  evening.  Here  he  would 
meet  those  who  believed  as  he  did,  who  were  fight- 
ing to  uphold  the  same  principles  which  he  upheld. 
There  at  least  he  would  be  among  friends. 

Before  going  to  the  drill  he  thought  he  would 
take  a  short  walk.  He  met  many  he  knew,  but  to 
his  surprise,  few  returned  his  salutations.  They 
simply  returned  his  salute  with  a  stony  stare.  He 
now  realized  for  the  first  time  that  he  was  an  out- 
cast from  the  society  in  which  he  had  moved.  He 
was  no  longer  the  favorite  nephew  of  the  rich  Mr. 
Middleton;  he  had  been  driven  from  his  home,  dis- 
graced, scorned.  Edward  had  lost  no  time  during 
the  day  in  reporting  what  had  befallen  Lawrence. 
All  of  the  Minute  Men  knew  it ;  it  was  the  theme  of 
conversation  in  every  aristocratic  home.  Lawrence 
keenly  felt  these  rebuffs.  He  would  be  insulted  no 


178  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

more.  Hereafter  he  would  notice  only  those  of  his 
acquaintances  who  first  noticed  him.  So  with  head 
erect,  and  step  as  proud  as  ever  he  walked  on. 

Coming  to  a  small  park,  he  sat  down  to  think  over 
the  events  of  the  day.  Here  one  of  the  boys  who  at- 
tended the  academy  found  him.  His  name  was 
Guilford  Craig,  and  he  was  the  step-brother  of  Ben- 
ton  Shelley.  He  was  a  frail,  sickly  youth,  and  Law- 
rence had  first  won  his  friendship  by  defending  him 
against  the  aggression  of  a  much  larger  and  stronger 
boy.  His  step-brother  also  domineered  over  him  in 
a  very  insulting  manner. 

On  the  day  that  Lawrence  had  knocked  down 
Shelley  for  calling  him  a  coward,  Guilford  watched 
his  chance,  and  coming  up  to  Lawrence  when  no  one 
was  near,  grasped  his  hand,  and  said:  "I  want  to 
thank  you  for  whipping  Bent.  I  wished  you  had 
half  killed  him.  I  hate  him.  I  tell  you,  I  hate 
him." 

Lawrence  had  thought  it  best  not  to  pry  too  closely 
into  a  closet  which  concealed  a  family  skeleton ;  so  he 
said  little,  but  watched  Guilford.  He  saw  that  he 
always  wore  a  kind  of  hunted  look,  and  seldom  took 
part  in  the  boyish  sports  of  the  students;  also  that 
he  was  of  a  very  secretive  nature. 

"I  have  been  looking  for  you/'  said  Guilford; 
"  in  fact,  I  followed  you  here.  I  saw  those  fellows 
cutting  you,  and  I  know  what  it  was  for :  it  was  be- 


A   VALUABLE  ALLY  179 

cause  you  are  for  the  Union,"  and  sinking  his  voice 
to  a  whisper,  "  I  am  for  the  Union,  too,  but  nobody 
knows  it." 

"You,"  answered  Lawrence  in  surprise.  "I 
thought  you  were  a  strong  Southern  boy,  you  al- 
ways talked  that  way." 

"  I  know  that ;  I  do  it  to  fool  them.  You  knew 
my  step-brother,  Bent,  is  one  of  the  Minute  Men.  He 
is  also  in  the  Militia  on  General  Frost's  staff.  Gen- 
eral Frost  often  comes  to  the  house,  and  I  hear  them 
talk.  I  learn  lots  of  things.  Father  and  my  step- 
mother are  both  strong  for  the  South.  I  have  been 
trying  to  join  the  Minute  Men.  They  say  I  am  too 
young  and  weakly,  but  I  will  come  it  yet.  Do  you 
know  what  I  am  going  to  be  ?  " 

"  No,  what  are  you  going  to  be  ?  A  general  ?  " 
asked  Lawrence. 

"Will  you  never  tell?" 

"  Not  if  you  don't  want  me  to." 

"Will  you  swear  on  your  honor?" 

"  If  you  want  me  to,  yes." 

The  boy  put  his  lips  close  to  Lawrence's  ear  and 
whispered,  "  I  am  going  to  be  a  spy." 

Lawrence  started.  The  word  "  spy  "  had  a  hateful 
sound.  It  meant  deceit,  falsehood.  But  then  he 
remembered  that  every  general  employed  spies  in 
war.  It  was  a  commander's  business  to  find  out  all 
he  could  about  the  enemy. 


180  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

"  A  spy,  Guilford  ?  That 's  dangerous  business," 
answered  Lawrence.  "  What  put  that  in  your 
head?" 

"Oh!  I  have  been  reading  a  book  about  a  spy; 
it  's  just  grand.  And  then,  I  want  to  do  the  South 
all  the  damage  I  can.  I  hate  slavery.  I  know  some- 
thing now  which  Frank  Blair  would  like  to  know." 

"Tell  me,"  said  Lawrence. 

"  Not  without  you  will  swear  to  tell  no  one  who 
told  you." 

"Must  I  not  tell  Blair?" 

"  No,  not  Blair,  or  any  other  living  soul.  I  will  be 
your  spy,  on  that  condition.  If  you  don't  swear,  I 
will  tell  no  one,  and  you  will  be  sorry." 

Lawrence  thought  it  was  a  queer  condition  for  the 
boy  to  make,  and  regarded  it  as  a  boyish  fancy ;  but 
it  would  do  no  hurt  to  promise,  so  he  made  the 
promise,  and  made  it  as  strong  as  Guilford 
demanded. 

"  First,"  said  Guilford,  "  I  will  tell  you  why  I  hate 
slavery,  why  I  hate  my  step-brother,  why  I  hate 
all  of  them. 

"My  mother  died  when  I  was  a  babe.  Hannah, 
one  of  my  father's  slaves,  became  my  black  mammy. 
From  her  breast  I  drew  the  nourishment  which  kept 
me  alive.  How  that  black  woman  grew  to  love  me ! 
I  was  weak  and  sickly,  and  night  after  night  she 
watched  over  me  as  tenderly  as  my  own  mother 
could  have  done.  I  grew  to  love  her  with  all  my 


A  VALUABLE  ALLY  181 

heart.  When  I  was  six  years  of  age,  my  father  mar- 
ried again,  a  widow  with  one  child,  a  boy  three  years 
older  than  myself.  That  boy  is  my  step-brother, 
Benton  Shelley.  Hardly  had  he  become  an  inmate 
of  the  house  before  he  began  to  domineer  over  me. 
My  father,  immersed  in  business,  paid  little  atten- 
tion, and  both  my  step-mother  and  Bent  were  very 
careful  to  be  kind  to  me  when  my  father  was 
around.  When  he  was  away,  I  suffered  martyrdom. 

"  Hannah  saw  it  all,  and  her  blood  boiled,  but  she 
could  do  nothing.  One  day  I  did  something  Bent 
did  n't  like,  and  he  struck  me,  struck  me  a  cruel  blow. 
Hannah  saw  it,  and  forgetting  she  was  a  slave, 
caught  him,  and  gave  him  a  good  shaking. 

"'  Don't  you  ebber  tich  my  bressed  honey  agin/ 
she  cried,  '  if  you  do,  I  tak  yo'  hide  off/  and  taking 
me  sobbing  and  crying  to  her  motherly  bosom,  she 
comforted  me. 

"  Of  course  there  was  an  uproar.  My  step-mother 
demanded  that  Hannah  should  be  whipped,  and 
then  sold  South.  Father  demurred  at  first,  but  at 
last  for  the  sake  of  peace,  he  consented.  And  my 
step-mother,  that  she-devil,  forced  me  to  see  Hannah 
whipped.  Young  as  I  was  I  was  a  fury.  I  flew  at 
the  officer  who  was  to  whip  her,  and  was  borne 
struggling  and  screaming  away.  I  pleaded  as  only 
a  child  can  plead,  but  it  did  no  good.  I  could  only 
cover  my  face  with  my  hands,  and  refuse  to  look,  but 
I  heard  the  swish  of  the  whip,  and  Bent  cry, 


182  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

'Harder!  harder!  Giver  it  to  her  harder/  How  I 
have  hated  him  ever  since ! 

"During  her  punishment  Hannah  never  uttered 
a  groan  or  made  a  sound.  Her  heart  seemed  to  have 
been  broken.  They  sold  her  South,  refusing  to  let 
me  see  her.  The  first  night  out,  watching  her  op- 
portunity, she  threw  herself  overboard.  Do  you 
wonder  I  hate  slavery?" 

"  No,  I  do  not,"  replied  Lawrence,  deeply  moved 
by  the  recital.  "  I,  too,  have  suffered  from  slavery, 
suffered  more  than  you  know,  yet  the  greatest  kind- 
ness I  ever  received  has  been  from  those  who  owned 
slaves." 

"I  think,"  continued  Guilford,  "that  the  whip- 
ping of  Hannah  changed  my  whole  nature.  I  be- 
came secretive,  and  my  only  thought  was  for  re- 
venge. As  I  grew  older,  I  rebelled  against  Bent's 
domineering  ways.  He  never  struck  me  but  once 
again,  and  then  I  sprang  at  him  with  a  knife,  and 
would  have  killed  him,  if  one  of  the  servants  had  not 
held  me.  I  told  him  if  he  ever  struck  me  again,  I 
would  kill  him,  if  I  had  to  do  it  in  his  sleep.  Since 
that  time  he  has  not  dared  to  touch  me.  My  step- 
mother also  uses  me  with  some  semblance  of  kind- 
ness, but  I  know  both  she  and  Bent  would  rejoice  if 
I  were  out  of  the  way,  for  then  they  would  inherit 
the  property.  You  know  father  is  very  wealthy." 

"Has  your  father  no  children  by  your  step- 
mother?" asked  Lawrence. 


A  VALUABLE  ALLY  183 

"  Yes,  two  little  girls,  and  I  love  them  dearly.  I 
know  they  think  more  of  me  than  they  do  of  Bent. 
His  way  is  rougher  with  them." 

"How  about  this  spy  business?" 

"That  is  what  I  am  going  to  tell  you.  Father 
and  George  talk  very  openly  before  me,  for  they  be- 
lieve I  am  a  greater  fire-eater  than  even  Bent.  You 
ought  to  hear  me  hurrah  for  Jeff  Davis,  and  curse 
the  Yankees!" 

Lawrence  shivered  at  such  duplicity,  but  thought 
it  wise  to  say  nothing,  and  Guilford  continued. 

"When  General  Frost  is  there,  they  frequently 
hold  secret  consultations  in  the  library,  to  which  I 
am  not  admitted.  But  there  is  a  closet  off  the 
library,  and  I  hide  in  that,  and  hear  every  word  that 
is  said.  What  I  want  to  see  you  for  this  evening 
is  to  tell  you  that  they  are  after  the  United  States 
arsenal." 

"  Yes,  we  all  know  that,  but  they  will  have  to  fight 
to  get  it,"  replied  Lawrence. 

"  Don't  be  too  sure.  Major  Bell  has  entered  into 
a  secret  agreement  with  Frost  to  surrender  the 
arsenal  to  him  without  firing  a  shot." 

"Great  Heavens!  can  that  be  so?"  ejaculated 
Lawrence.  "  Is  there  not  some  mistake?  " 

"  There  is  no  mistake.    I  heard  Frost  say  so." 

"  Blair  must  know  of  this  at  once.  May  I  not  tell 
him  my  source  of  information?" 

"Never!     Remember  your  oath;  a  word  as  to 


184  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

whom  you  received  this  information  from,  and  you 
get  no  more/'  exclaimed  Guilford,  with  vehemence. 

Lawrence  saw  it  was  no  use  to  urge  him  further, 
so  he  said :  "  Do  you  know  I  have  left  my  uncle's 
house,  driven  out  because  I  am  for  the  Union?" 

"Yes,  all  the  boys  know  it.  Bent  fairly  danced 
for  joy  when  he  heard  it." 

"  I  have  now  secured  a  room  at  No. — , Street. 

When  you  have  any  information  to  give,  you  can  find 
me  there.  But  I  must  see  Blair;  also,  it  is  time  to 
go  to  drill.  Try  and  see  me  to-morrow.  I  will  then 
know  just  what  to  tell  you." 

Lawrence  was  already  late,  and  the  drill  was  in 
progress  when  he  arrived  at  the  headquarters  of  his 
company.  The  news  of  his  expulsion  from  his 
uncle's  house  had  reached  them,  and  more  than  one 
asylum  was  offered  him.  Carl  Mayer  begged  that 
he  make  his  father's  house  his  home,  but  Lawrence 
told  them  he  had  already  secured  quarters,  but 
thanked  them  all  heartily  for  their  kindness. 

Just  as  the  drill  was  closing,  Frank  Blair,  ac- 
companied by  a  few  other  prominent  Union  men  of 
the  city,  came  in.  As  soon  as  he  had  an  opportunity 
Lawrence  said  he  would  like  to  see  him  in  private, 
as  he  had  something  important  to  communicate. 

"  How  about  the  gentlemen  with  me  ?  "  asked 
Blair. 

"  They  can  come  too,"  said  Lawrence,  "  for  I 
want  advice." 


.  A  VALUABLE  ALLY  185 

The  party  repaired  to  a  private  room,  and  there 
Lawrence  told  his  story. 

"  I  am  not  surprised  at  Major  Bell,  except  for  one 
thing/'  said  Blair.  "  I  have  always  considered  him  a 
traitor  at  heart,  and  that  he  would  surrender  the 
arsenal  at  the  first  demand.  But  that  he  would  enter 
into  a  secret  pledge  to  do  so,  before  any  demand  was 
made  on  him,  is  almost  past  belief.  But  it  is  only 
what  the  traitors  are  doing  all  over  the  country,  hold- 
ing onto  the  offices  only  to  betray  the  Government 
they  have  sworn  to  support.  You  consider  your 
information  perfectly  reliable,  do  you,  Lieutenant 
Middleton?" 

"  Perfectly.  I  will  stake  my  reputation  on  it,"  re- 
plied Lawrence. 

"  Yet  I  should  feel  safer  if  I  knew  who  was  your 
informant,"  said  Blair.  "We  have  to  meet  du- 
plicity and  falsehood  on  every  side." 

"I  would  gladly  tell  you,  if  I  could,"  said  Law- 
rence, "  but  as  I  explained,  my  informant  is  adamant 
on  that  point.  I  and  I  alone  must  know  who  he  is." 

"  I  think,"  said  Mr.  Glover,  one  of  the  gentlemen 
present,  "  that  it  is  well  to  let  the  matter  rest  as  it 
is.  We  all  have  confidence  in  Lieutenant  Middleton ; 
and,  if  as  he  says,  his  informant  has  access  to  the 
secret  counsels  of  the  enemy,  it  is  highly  important 
that  we  do  not  cut  off  the  source  of  that  informa- 
tion." 

"  Then  you  think  it  right  that  I  should  encourage 


186  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

my  informant  in  his  deception?  I  confess  I  have 
had  my  doubts.  It  —  it  don't  look  right." 

At  this  they  all  laughed  heartily.  "My  boy," 
said  Blair,  "  have  you  not  heard  the  old  adage,  that 
the  only  way  to  fight  the  devil  is  with  fire?  How 
can  we  know  the  plots  of  such  perjured  traitors  as 
Major  Bell,  unless  by  just  such  means  as  you  are 
employing?  Encourage  your  informant  all  you  can; 
get  all  the  information  out  of  him  possible.  Now  to 
your  private  affairs,  Lieutenant ;  I  hear  your  uncle 
has  cast  you  out." 

"Yes,  I  left  the  house  this  morning,  never  to 
enter  it  again  unless  I  am  invited." 

"I  hardly  thought  that  of  your  uncle,"  replied 
Blair.  "  He  always  seemed  to  me  a  very  fair,  con- 
servative man.  I  had  hopes  he  would  be  with  us." 

"  He  never  would  have  done  it,"  said  Lawrence, 
49  if  it  had  not  been  for  my  cousin  Edward.  Uncle 
had  to  choose  between  him  and  me.  Edward  de- 
clared he  would  never  enter  the  house  again  if  I 
stayed." 

"Ah!"  said  Blair,  "that  makes  a  difference. 
Edward  Middleton  is  with  Basil  Duke,  Green,  and 
others.  We  shall  have  trouble  with  those  young 
fellows  before  we  are  through  with  them.  They 
are  a  daring  set.  But  now,  Lieutenant,  that  you 
are  out  of  a  home,  what  are  your  plans  for  the 
future?" 

"I  have  made  none  as  yet,  except  to  engage  a 


A  VALUABLE  ALLY  187 

room  and  board;  I  must  look  around  a  little/'  re- 
plied Lawrence. 

"What  do  you  say  to  becoming  my  orderly  and 
confidential  clerk?  I  have  no  doubt  that  war  will 
come,  and  come  soon.  In  that  case,  the  regiments 
we  now  are  forming  will  be  mustered  into  the 
United  States  service,  and  I  will  see  that  you  hold 
your  present  position.  Until  that  time  consider 
yourself  in  my  pay." 

"I  gladly  accept  your  proposition,  Mr.  Blair," 
said  Lawrence ;  "  and  you  do  me  great  honor  in 
offering  it." 

Blair  and  other  Union  men  of  St.  Louis  lost  no 
time  in  informing  General  Scott,  at  Washington, 
of  Major  Bell's  contemplated  treachery.  He  was 
promptly  removed,  and  Major  Peter  V.  Hagner 
appointed  in  his  place. 


CHAPTER  XIII 

NATHANIEL   LYON 

IN  St.  Louis  was  the  largest  arsenal  in  the 
United  States.  It  contained  sixty  thousand 
stands  of  arms,  and  an  immense  quantity  of 
munitions  of  war.  One  of  the  first  acts  of  the  re- 
bellious States  was  to  seize  the  Government  arsenals 
within  their  borders,  under  the  absurd  claim  that  all 
property  of  the  National  Government  belonged  to 
the  State  in  which  the  property  was  situated. 

From  the  very  inception  of  the  rebellion,  the  Con- 
federates had  their  eyes  fixed  on  the  St.  Louis 
arsenal.  If  they  had  that,  they  would  control  most 
of  the  arms  of  the  Federal  Government  in  the  West. 
It  would  place  the  Mississippi  Valley  at  their  mercy, 
and  we  have  seen  how  early  the  Missouri  seces- 
sionists laid  plans  to  capture  it. 

At  the  time  Major  Bell  was  secretly  plotting  with 
General  Frost  to  surrender  the  arsenal,  but  few 
States  had  seceded.  Major  Bell  posed  as  a  loyal 
citizen  of  the  United  States.  It  was  this  secret 
treason  with  which  the  Federal  Government  had  to 
deal  at  every  turn,  and  which  came  so  near  being 
successful  in  dragging  the  border  States  into  re- 
bellion. 

To  guard  this  great  arsenal  there  were  but  sixty 

188 


NATHANIEL  LYON  189 

soldiers,  and  these  in  command  of  an  officer  plotting 
treason.  In  January  the  Government  sent  forty 
more  soldiers  to  help  to  guard  the  arsenal.  If  the 
forty  had  been  forty  thousand  they  would  not  have 
created  greater  excitement.  The  papers  issued  ex- 
tras, denouncing  the  outrage.  The  great  State  of 
Missouri  had  been  insulted.  If  the  arsenal  was  in 
danger,  they  would  guard  it.  Excited  throngs  pa- 
raded the  streets;  fiery  speeches  were  made.  It 
looked  at  one  time  as  if  the  coming  of  these  forty 
soldiers  would  create  a  riot. 

The  military  division  of  the  West  contained  most 
of  the  territory  between  the  Mississippi  River  and 
the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  was  under  the  command 
of  General  William  S.  Harney,  with  headquarters 
at  St.  Louis.  He  was  a  brave  and  skilful  officer,  but 
of  advanced  age,  and  also  of  Southern  birth  and  a 
slave-owner.  For  these  reasons  he  was  distrusted  by 
the  Union  men,  and  not  without  cause.  A  Southern 
writer  says  of  him :  "  While  he  sympathized  with  the 
South,  he  loved  the  Union  and  knew  no  other  coun- 
try, and  was  absolutely  loyal  to  the  flag." 

This  may  be  true,  but  it  is  also  true  that  his 
sympathy  for  the  South  was  so  great,  and  the 
thought  of  shedding  the  blood  of  his  friends  so  ter- 
rible, that  he  would  have  let  St.  Louis  and  Missouri 
drift  into  the  Confederacy,  without  firing  a  gun  to 
prevent  it.  The  situation  in  St.  Louis  needed  not 
only  a  man  who  loved  the  flag,  but  a  man  quick  to 


190  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

act,  fearless ;  one  who  would  not  be  tied  by  red  tape ; 
one  who  would  dare  and  do  things,  even  to  the  dis- 
obeying of  his  superiors. 

Early  in  February,  such  a  man  came  to  St.  Louis 
in  the  person  of  Captain  Nathaniel  Lyon,  who  had 
been  ordered  with  his  company  from  Fort  Riley, 
Kansas.  In  Lyon,  Frank  Blair  found  a  man  after 
his  own  heart.  Lyon  was  described  at  that  time  as 
being  a  man  about  forty-three  years  of  age,  of  less 
than  medium  height,  slender  and  angular,  with 
abundant  hair  of  a  sandy  color,  and  a  reddish-brown 
beard.  He  had  deep-set  blue  eyes;  and  his  features 
were  rough  and  weather-beaten.  No  humble  cap- 
tain ever  made  history  more  rapidly  for  a  few 
months  than  he.  He  took  in  the  situation  at  a 
glance,  and  at  once  set  to  work  to  save  St.  Louis 
and  Missouri  to  the  Union.  He  and,  Blair  worked 
hand  in  hand;  between  them  there  was  complete 
agreement. 

Blair  already  had  the  nucleus  of  an  army  in  his 
regiments  of  Home  Guards.  Lyon  met  them, 
drilled  them,  infused  into  them  the  spirit  of  soldiers ; 
but  they  were  soldiers  without  arms. 

To  a  soldier  like  Lyon,  the  safety  of  the  arsenal 
was  the  first  object  sought.  He  was  very  much  dis- 
satisfied with  the  preparations  which  Major  Hagner 
had  made  for  defending  it,  which  in  reality  was  no 
preparation  at  all.  Lyon  claimed  that  he  outranked 
Major  Hagner  and  should  have  supreme  command 


NATHANIEL  LYON  191 

in  St.  Louis.  This  Hagner  refused ;  the  dispute  was 
referred  to  Washington,  and  Hagner  was  upheld. 
At  last  Lyon  was  given  command  of  the  troops  in 
St.  Louis,  but  Major  Hagner  was  left  in  control  of 
the  ordnance  stores.  This  tied  Lyon's  hands,  as  far 
as  the  arms  were  concerned. 

Lawrence  was  introduced  to  Lyon  soon  after  the 
latter's  arrival,  and  the  story  told  of  his  getting  at  the 
most  secret  machinations  of  the  Rebels. 

"  Who  is  your  informant  ?  "  asked  Lyon. 

"That  I  am  not  at  liberty  to  tell/'  answered 
Lawrence. 

The  reply  nettled  Lyon.  "  I  have  little  use  for  in- 
formation of  which  I  do  not  know  the  source/'  he 
bluntly  replied. 

Lawrence  drew  himself  proudly  up.  "You  can 
consider  me  the  source,  Captain.  If  I  ever  mislead 
you,  hang  me.  This  is  all  I  have  to  say.  If  you 
wish  any  information  from  me  hereafter,  let  me 
know.  Good-day,  sir/'  And  Lawrence  walked 
away,  as  if  he,  not  Lyon,  were  in  command. 

Lyon  looked  after  him,  not  in  anger,  but  admir- 
ingly. "Who  is  that  boy?"  he  asked  of  Blair. 
"  He  seems  to  have  the  right  sort  of  stuff  in  him/' 

"He  is  my  confidential  secretary,"  answered 
Blair,  "and  a  lieutenant  in  one  of  my  companies 
of  Home  Guards." 

Blair  then  gave  Lyon  a  full  history  of  Lawrence 
as  far  as  he  knew  it.  But  Blair  did  not  know  of 


192  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

Lawrence's  experiences  in  Missouri  and  Kansas,  and 
how  his  father  had  met  his  death. 

"  And  so  he  was  kicked  out  of  one  of  the  richest 
homes  in  the  city  on  account  of  his  loyalty  to  the 
flag?"  said  Lyon. 

"Yes,  and  I  have  found  him  true  as  steel," 
answered  Blair.  "  Why  he  cannot  tell  the  source  of 
his  information,  he  explained  to  me :  the  moment  he 
tells,  he  gets  no  more  information.  I  will  vouch 
for  him.  So  far  I  have  found  the  information  he 
gives  me  absolutely  correct." 

"  It  's  all  right,  if  you  say  so,  Blair.  I  like  the 
spirit  the  boy  shows.  Let  me  see  him  again." 

Lawrence  was  summoned.  Lyon  apologized  for 
his  bluntness,  but  excused  himself  by  saying  he 
found  so  much  double-dealing  in  St.  Louis  he  hardly 
knew  whom  to  trust.  "  Bring  me  all  the  informa- 
tion you  can,  Lieutenant,  it  will  be  gladly  received," 
he  said,  as  he  closed  the  interview. 

And  from  that  day,  the  relations  of  Lawrence 
and  Lyon  grew  closer  and  closer. 


CHAPTER  XIV 

THE  FOURTH  OF  MARCH 

HOW  many  of  our  young  readers  are  aware 
that  the  war  for  the  preservation  of  the 
Union  barely  escaped  commencing  on  the 
fourth  of  March,  the  very  day  that  Lincoln  was  in- 
augurated President,  instead  of  the  twelfth  of  April, 
by  the  bombardment  of  Fort  Sumter?  Yet  such  is 
the  case,  and  history  came  nearly  being  written 
much  differently.  That  the  streets  of  St.  Louis  did 
not  run  red  with  blood,  at  the  very  moment  Lincoln 
was  making  his  inauguration  speech,  was  entirely 
owing  to  the  fact  that  Frank  Blair  and  Lyon  had 
been  forewarned,  and  did  all  in  their  power  to  pre- 
vent it.  That  the  great  Rebellion  was  not  precipi- 
tated before  Lincoln  had  taken  his  oath  of  office 
seems  almost  like  a  special  dispensation  of  Provi- 
dence; but  it  was  owing  to  the  information  placed 
in  the  hands  of  Lawrence  by  Guilford  Graig,  that 
the  whole  plot  was  laid  bare. 

Lawrence  and  Guilford  had  met  two  or  three 
times  by  secret  appointment,  when  Guilford  told 
him  that  even  their  meetings  might  be  dangerous, 
for  the  spies  of  the  Minute  Men  were  everywhere; 
so  they  resolved  to  establish  a  secret  postofifice. 

Near  where  Lawrence  boarded  was  an  old  brick 

193 


194  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

wall,  badly  cracked.  The  place  was  dark  and  se- 
cluded. Behind  in  one  of  these  cracks,  large  enough 
for  a  hand  to  be  inserted,  they  -resolved  to  establish 
their  office,  but  not  in  the  crack,  for  papers  might  be 
seen.  Lawrence  carefully  removed  one  of  the 
bricks  next  to  the  crack,  then  he  removed  the  brick 
behind  that.  He  now  carefully  replaced  the  first 
brick  removed,  and  this  left  a  receptacle  behind  it 
the  size  of  a  brick,  which  could  be  reached  by  in- 
serting the  hand  in  the  crack.  It  made  a  safe  and 
secure  hiding-place,  and  in  it  were  placed  secrets 
'which  confounded  all  the  machinations  of  the 
plotters. 

The  first  information  that  Lawrence  carried  to 
Blair  and  Lyon  was  important,  yet  it  puzzled  them 
to  understand  exactly  what  it  meant.  It  was  to  the 
import  that  the  Minute  Men  had  rented  the  Berthold 
mansion  at  the  corner  of  Fifth  and  Pine  Streets,  and 
were  converting  it  into  a  fort.  The  most  improved 
arms  had  been  transported  into  the  building,  boxed 
as  household  goods.  Even  a  cannon  had  been 
smuggled  in  that  way. 

"I  have  not  yet  been  able  to  learn  what  it  all 
means,"  wrote  Guilford,  "  but  I  reckon  I  shall  soon, 
for  they  have  promised  to  admit  me  as  one  of  the 
Minute  Men.  As  soon  as  I  am  a  member,  I  will 
take  care  to  learn  all  their  secrets.  General  Frost 
was  here  last  evening,  and  whatever  they  were 
planning,  I  am  sure  he  is  in  it.  I  had  company,  and 


THE  FOURTH  OF  MARCH  195 

so  was  unable  to  occupy  my  secret  hiding-place  in 
the  closet." 

"This  converting  the  Berthold  mansion  into  a 
fort  means  mischief  of  some  kind,"  said  Blair  to 
Lyon ;  "  we  shall  have  to  watch  it  closely." 

"I  have  had  my  spies  watch  the  mansion,"  said 
Lyon,  "  and  I  find  that  the  information  imparted  by 
Lieutenant  Middleton  is  absolutely  correct.  It  is 
wonderful  how  he  gets  it.  Every  door  is  guarded 
by  sentinels,  and  no  one  is  admitted  without  the  pass- 
word. I  wonder  what  the  next  move  will  be." 

General  Lyon  had  not  long  to  wait.  On  the  night 
of  the  second  of  March,  Lawrence  found  a  very 
important  communication  in  the  secret  receptacle. 
It  was  a  communication  which  set  every  drop  of 
blood  in  his  veins  tingling,  and  he  lost  no  time  in 
communicating  its  contents  to  Blair  and  Lyon, 
Guilford  had  succeeded  in  joining  the  Minute  Men. 
He  now  had  free  access  to  the  Berthold  mansion, 
and  had  learned  all  their  plans.  It  was  a  gigantic 
conspiracy,  in  .which  Governor  Jackson,  General 
Frost,  and  the  Minute  Men  were  all  concerned. 
The  conspiracy  was  to  culminate  March  the  fourth, 
the  day  Lincoln  was  to  be  inaugurated  as  President. 
They  wanted  some  excuse  to  attack  and  capture  the 
arsenal.  As  the  State  had  not  seceded,  and  as  Jack- 
son and  Frost  still  professed  allegiance  to  the  United 
States  flag,  they  durst  not  attack  it  outright.  There- 
fore on  the  fourth  of  March,  the  mansion  was  to  be 


196  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

fully  garrisoned,  and  the  Confederate  flag  hoisted 
over  it.  This  they  fully  believed  would  create  a 
bloody  riot.  The  Minute  Men  were  confident  they 
could  hold  the  house  against  any  force  that  Blair 
or  Lyon  could  bring  against  it,  unless  they  had  ar- 
tillery. While  the  riot,  as  it  would  be  called,  was 
raging  around  the  Berthold  mansion,  General  Frost, 
under  the  pretence  of  quelling  the  riot,  was  to  march, 
with  his  militia  and  numerous  companies  of  Minute 
Men  which  had  been  formed  throughout  the  city, 
to  the  arsenal,  capture  it,  and  then  if  need  be,  turn 
their  guns  on  the  mob  in  the  street.  All  this  under 
the  pretext  of  keeping  the  peace. 

Numerous  Minute  Men  were  also  detailed  to  go 
through  the  crowd,  exciting  them  to  deeds  of 
violence,  and  urging  them  to  attack  the  Berthold 
mansion,  and  pull  down  the  "dirty  rag,"  if  the  mob 
seemed  a  little  backward  in  attacking  the  place. 
It  was  a  black,  a  hellish  conspiracy,  and  if  carried 
out,  successful  or  unsuccessful,  it  would  have  made 
the  streets  of  St.  Louis  shambles. 

"My  God!  what  will  they  do  next?"  exclaimed 
Blair,  as  Lawrence  laid  this  information  before 
him. 

Lyon's  stern  face  grew  sterner.  "And  here  I 
am,"  he  exclaimed  passionately,  "bound  hand  and 
foot.  Not  a  single  gun  can  I  have  from  that  arsenal 
to  help  to  defend  it.  All  I  can  rely  on  is  my  few 
soldiers,." 


THE  FOURTH  OF  MARCH  197 

"  There  must  be  no  riot/'  declared  Blair,  bringing 
his  first  down  on  the  table  with  great  force.  "We 
must  prevent  it  We  shall  have  to  let  that  rag  float." 

"How  can  we  prevent  it?"  asked  Lyon;  "mobs 
are  hard  to  control." 

"  By  warning  our  men,  by  telling  them  on  no  ac- 
count must  they  bring  on  a  conflict." 

The  third  of  March  was  a  busy  day  with  Blair 
and  his  lieutenants.  Only  a  few  were  let  into  the 
real  secret,  but  every  Union  man  was  warned  not  to 
bring  on  a  conflict  on  the  morrow.  It  made  no  dif- 
ference, they  were  told,  what  the  provocation  was, 
how  vile  the  epithets  that  might  be  hurled  upon  them, 
their  tongues  must  be  silent,  their  hands  be  re- 
strained. It  was  the  day  Lincoln  was  to  be  in- 
augurated ;  there  must  be  no  bloodshed  to  cloud  the 
beginning  of  his  presidency,  or  to  make  his  task 
more  difficult. 

But  Blair  had  his  Home  Guards  gather  at  their 
halls,  where  they  were  to  remain  quiet  but  ready 
for  any  emergency.  If  orders  came,  they  were  not 
to  go  to  quell  any  riot  which  might  be  raging  in  the 
streets,  but  march  to  the  defence  of  the  arsenal, 
and  stand  by  it  to  the  last  man. 

"  If  the  arsenal  be  attacked,"  said  Lyon  to  Blair, 
"  I  will  arm  your  men  who  come  to  defend  it,  if  I 
have  to  kill  Hagner  to  get  the  guns.  I  will  take 
the  consequences  afterwards." 

When  the  Home  Guards  met  to  drill  that  night, 


198  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

all  the  officers  were  impressed  with  the  importance 
of  controlling  themselves  and  their  men  on  the 
morrow;  that  on  no  account  must  they  bring  on  a 
conflict. 

In  the  meantime  there  was  high  glee  in  the  ranks 
of  the  conspirators.  So  far  everything  had  worked 
to  their  satisfaction.  The  Berthold  mansion  had 
been  fully  armed.  It  would  be  garrisoned  by  be- 
tween one  and  two  hundred  desperate  young  men, 
all  that  could  be  successfully  handled  in  the  house; 
there  were  two  or  three  rifles  to  every  man.  A 
double-shotted  cannon  guarded  the  entrance.  There 
would  be  hundreds  of  their  friends  on  the  outside,  to 
stir  up  strife,  and  then  to  help  them  when  the  attack 
came.  At  the  first  sound  of  fighting,  Frost,  and  the 
companies  of  Minute  Men  throughout  the  city,  were 
to  march  on  the  arsenal.  As  far  as  they  could  see, 
their  plans  were  unknown;  the  Union  men  had  not 
taken  the  alarm.  On  the  morrow  Lincoln  might  be 
made  President,  but  St.  Louis  and  Missouri  would 
be  safe  in  the  arms  of  the  Confederacy. 

To  the  Union  men  who  knew  of  the  plot  there 
was  little  sleep  that  night.  As  for  Lyon,  he  was  like 
a  caged  wild  beast.  To  be  tied  hand  and  foot  by  the 
red  tape  of  the  War  Department;  to  be  surrounded 
by  traitors,  and  not  allowed  to  lift  a  hand,  was  the 
situation  of  Lyon,  on  this  night  of  March  the  third. 
But  on  this  he  was  resolved  —  to  defend  the  arsenal 
to  the  last  man. 


THE  FOURTH  OF  MARCH  199 

Those  who  plotted  rebellion  in  St.  Louis  had  only 
to  look  across  the  river  to  see  the  free  State  of 
Illinois.  There  on  this  fourth  of  March,  1861,  all 
was  rejoicing.  There  the  flag  of  the  Union  was 
floating,  unfettered  and  beloved.  In  that  State,  this 
day  was  a  joyful  one,  for  was  not  one  of  her  sons 
to  become  President  of  the  United  States  —  a  son 
whose  name  is  to  live  forever  in  history  ? 

So  on  this  day,  the  people  of  Illinois  rejoiced, 
all  iunmindful  of  the  war  clouds  gathering  just 
across  the  river.  And  with  Illinois  the  whole  North 
rejoiced.  The  great  majority  of  its  people  still 
slumbered  on  in  fancied  security.  Although  the 
President  of  their  choice  had  to  creep  through  Balti- 
more like  a  criminal,  they  cherished  the  thought 
that  in  some  way,  when  Lincoln  became  President, 
the  dark  clouds  would  be  swept  away,  and  there 
would  be  no  war.  So  they  slumbered  on,  until  the 
thunder  of  Sumter's  guns  awoke  them.  Little  did 
the  nation  think  how  near  the  awakening  came  on 
this,  the  fourth  of  March. 

St.  Louis  passed  a  feverish  night.  Thousands 
of  its  citizens  swore  that  Lincoln  should  never  be 
President  of  Missouri.  They  turned  with  longing 
eyes  to  the  newly  arisen  star  of  the  Southern  Con- 
federacy. In  the  darkness  of  the  night,  the  enemies 
of  the  Republic  were  busy.  When  the  morning  sun 
arose,  and  the  citizens  of  St.  Louis  looked  at  the 
dome  of  their  Court-house,  over  which  the  Stars 


200  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

and  Stripes  were  wont  to  wave,  the  flag  was  not 
there.  In  its  place  waved  the  flag  of  the  State  of 
Missouri.  Those  who  first  saw  could  scarcely  be- 
lieve their  eyes;  they  looked  and  looked  again,  but 
there  was  no  mistake,  the  State  flag  and  that  alone 
met  their  gaze.  Instinctively  they  turned  toward 
the  Berthold  mansion,  and  there  proudly  floating 
above  it,  was  the  flag  of  the  newly  born  Confed- 
eracy; at  every  window  stood  men  with  guns;  and 
from  the  open  portal  frowned  a  cannon. 

As  if  borne  on  the  wings  of  the  wind,  the  news 
flew  that  the  city  was  in  open  revolt,  that  the  Con- 
federate flag  had  been  raised,  and  that  the  city 
was  in  the  hands  of  the  enemies  of  the  Federal  Gov- 
ernment. 

An  excited  throng  began  to  gather.  The  flag  was 
greeted  with  wild  cheering  by  the  Southerners,  with 
groans  and  curses  by  those  who  loved  the  Union. 
Soon  from  the  Court-house  the  State  Flag  was  low- 
ered ;  in  its  place  arose  the  banner  of  freedom ;  and 
as  the  breeze  caught  its  folds,  and  the  rays  of  the 
sun  gilded  each  star,  there  burst  forth  a  mighty 
cheer  from  the  crowd,  but  only  to  be  followed  by 
the  sullen  roar  of  groans  and  curses,  and  wild 
hurrahs  for  Jeff  Davis  and  the  Southern 
Confederacy. 

But  over  the  Berthold  mansion  there  still  floated 
the  flag  of  treason.  Larger  and  more  excited  grew 
the  mob  that  thronged  around  it.  Thousands 


THE  FOURTH  OF  MARCH  201 

blocked  the  streets.  Around  the  house  the  mob 
surged  and  roared  like  the  billows  of  an  angry  sea. 
With  heavy  clubs  the  police  charged  the  mob,  but 
they  might  as  well  have  tried  to  stem  the  tide  of 
Niagara's  mighty  flood.  From  the  inmates  of  the 
house  there  came  taunts,  jeers,  and  vile  epithets, 
almost  too  brutal  to  be  borne, 

"Why  don't  you  come  and  take  down  the  flag?" 
they  shouted  from  doors  and  windows.  "Where 
are  Frank  Blair  and  his  Dutch?" 

Oh!  yes;  where  were  Frank  Blair  and  his  Ger- 
man Home  Guards  ?  Had  they  proven  craven  at  the 
last  moment?  Thousands  looked  at  that  flag,  and 
shook  their  fists,  and  cursed  and  swore,  and  won- 
dered why  Blair  and  his  Guards  did  not  come  to 
haul  it  down. 

Thousands  of  others  looked,  and  shouted  encour- 
agement to  those  within.  "  Keep  her  a-flying,  boys/' 
they  shouted.  "  We  will  help  you/'  "Down  with 
Abe  Lincoln!"  "Down  with  Frank  Blair  and  his 
Dutch  minions ! "  "  Hurrah  for  Jeff  Davis ! "  And 
from  the  house  there  still  poured  the  revilings  meant 
to  incite  the  mob  to  frenzy. 

The  excitement  spread  throughout  the  entire  city. 
It  was  a  city  in  which  pandemonium  reigned. 
White-faced  women  looked  from  the  windows,  and 
wrung  their  hands  in  agony.  Rumors  flew  thick 
and  fast:  The  Confederates  had  the  city  in  their 
power;  they  had  the  arsenal.  No,  Blair  was  march- 


202  WITH  IYON  IN  MISSOURI 

ing  on  the  Berthold  mansion  with  his  Home  Guards. 
The  streets  would  run  red  with  blood.  And  they 
strained  their  ears  to  catch  the  first  sound  of  combat. 

As  the  hours  passed,  the  mob  grew.  Why  did  not 
Frank  Blair  and  his  Home  Guards  come  ?  Hundreds 
were  in  favor  of  storming  the  house. 

"  Why  don't  you  come  and  get  the  flag,  cowards, 
cravens,  nigger-worshippers?"  was  shouted  down 
at  the  mob. 

Stung  to  frenzy,  a  few  young  men  made  a  rush 
for  the  door;  they  were  without  weapons,  but  had 
strong  arms.  At  their  head  was  Carl  Mayer.  They 
were  met  and  flung  back.  They  were  preparing  for 
another  dash  when  Lawrence  rushed  to  Carl's  side. 
•  "  Carl,  Carl,"  he  cried,  "  What  are  you  doing? 
Have  you  forgotten  your  orders?  For  the  love  of 
Heaven,  don't  bring  on  a  conflict." 

"  I  can't  bear  it,"  cried  Carl,  "  I  will  show  them 
we  are  not  all  cowards." 

"  You  must  bear  it ;  we  all  must  bear  it.  Our  time 
has  not  come  yet." 

In  the  door  of  the  house  stood  Benton  Shelley. 
He  saw  Lawrence  and  shook  his  sword  at  him. 
"  Come  on,  coward,  ingrate !  you  who  have  turned 
against  those  who  fed  and  clothed  you,"  he  cried. 
"  Come  on,  if  you  have  a  drop  of  red  blood  in  your 
black  veins ! " 

At  a  window  above  stood  his  cousin  Edward,  who 
scowled  on  him  but  said  nothing.  At  another  win- 


THE  FOURTH  OF  MARC  PI  203 

dow  he  saw  Guilford  Craig  with  a  gun  in  his  hands. 
The  boy  saw  him,  laid  a  finger  on  his  lips,  and  then 
began  to  shout  down  the  vilest  of  epithets  on  the 
Yankees  and  the  Dutch. 

How  could  the  boy  play  such  a  double  part?  It 
was  an  enigma  Lawrence  could  not  solve.  But  were 
not  the  Confederates  playing  the  same  kind  of  a 
part  ?  Was  not  General  Frost  the  personification  of 
deceit  and  treachery? 

Inside  of  the  Berthold  mansion,  the  leaders  of  the 
plot  raved  and  stormed.  Duke,  and  Green,  and 
Quinlan,  and  Champion,  and  McCoy  were  beside 
themselves.  Why  did  not  Blair  come  with  his  Home 
Guards?  Why  did  he  not  storm  their  citadel? 
They  were  prepared,  if  need  were,  to  give  their  lives 
for  the  cause  they  loved.  They  were  not  only  brave, 
but  desperate.  If  Governor  Jackson  had  only  said 
the  word,  they  would  have  charged  the  mob  and 
stormed  the  arsenal,  regardless  of  consequences. 
Many  of  those  boys  in  the  Berthold  mansion  gave 
their  lives,  afterwards,  to  the  South;  others  rose  to 
high  rank  in  the  Confederate  army. 

As  Blair  and  his  Home  Guards  did  not  appear, 
the  fury  of  the  mob  gradually  spent  itself.  Un- 
armed men  could  not  attack  a  stronghold  like  the 
Berthold  mansion,  and  when  night  came,  the  danger 
was  over;  but  above  the  mansion,  the  Confederate 
flag  still  floated,  and  there  it  remained  for  many  a 
day.  Many  a  loyal  heart  in  St.  Louis  that  night, 


£04  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

was  sick  and  faint.  They  believed  that  Blair,  when 
the  crisis  came,  had  failed ;  but  those  who  knew  and 
understood,  rejoiced  that,  for  the  time  being,  the 
danger  had  passed. 

As  for  the  conspirators,  they  were  both  elated  and 
depressed ;  depressed  because  their  plans  had  failed ; 
elated  because  they  believed  it  was  cowardice  on  the 
part  of  the  Home  Guards  that  prevented  Blair  from 
attacking  them. 

But  they  were  to  find  out  their  mistake  later; 
they  were  to  meet  Blair's  regiment  on  the  bloody 
field  of  Wilson  Creek. 


CHAPTER  XV 

A  DREAM  OF  EMPIRE 

ON  the  very  day  that  the  convention,  elected 
by  the  people  to  consider  the  status  of  Mis- 
souri in  the  Union,  met  in  Jefferson  City, 
Luther  Glenn  of  Georgia  arrived  in  the  city.  He 
was  sent  as  a  representative  of  the  Confederate 
States,  to  try  to  induce  Missouri  to  secede,  and  was 
received  with  open  arms  by  Governor  Jackson. 

Although  not  a  single  secessionist  had  been  elected 
to  that  convention,  the  Governor  did  not  for  a  mo- 
ment cease  his  efforts  to  drag  the  State  into  open  re- 
bellion. He  certainly  showed  courage  worthy  of  a 
better  cause.  Introducing  Mr.  Glenn  to  an  immense 
audience  which  had  gathered  in  the  street,  he  made 
a  fiery  speech,  defying  the  members  of  the  conven- 
tion, saying  that  the  place  for  Missouri  was  in  the 
Southern  Confederacy,  and  that  he  would  do  all  in 
his  power  to  place  her  there.  "And  there  is  where 
she  will  be  before  many  days,"  he  cried, 

No  doubt  when  he  spoke  these  words,  he  believed 
that  the  plot  about  to  be  sprung  in  St.  Louis  would 
be  successful,  and  that  the  city  and  arsenal  would 
soon  be  in  the  hands  of  Frost.  So  tyrannical  were 
the  methods  of  the  Governor  and  the  rampant  seces- 
sionists who  flocked  to  Jefferson  City,  that  the  con- 

205 


206  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

vention  was  forced  to  adjourn  and  to  meet  in  St. 
Louis,  where  it  could  deliberate  in  peace.  Mr. 
Glenn,  the  Southern  Commissioner,  was  feasted  and 
toasted  in  Jefferson  City,  and  made  much  of  by  the 
Governor  and  the  Legislature.  When  the  St.  Louis 
plot  failed,  the  Governor  was  greatly  disappointed, 
but  he  relaxed  none  of  his  efforts  to  force  the  State 
out  of  the  Union. 

To  this  end  a  secret  meeting  was  held  at  the  Gov- 
ernor's mansion,  to  which  several  hesitating  mem- 
bers of  the  Legislature  were  invited.  They  were  to 
meet  Mr.  Glenn,  and  he  was  to  explain  to  them 
what  the  Confederacy  hoped  to  accomplish,  and  why 
it  would  be  suicidal  in  Missouri  not  to  break  away 
from  the  old  Union. 

"  In  the  first  place,"  said  Mr.  Glenn,  "  you  must 
understand  the  South  is  out  to  stay.  The  North  can 
offer  us  no  compromise  that  we  will  accept.  Lin- 
coln must  let  us  go  in  peace,  or  there  will  be  war. 
If  war  comes,  it  is  absurd  to  think  that  the  North 
can  conquer  us.  The  Yankees  may  be  good  money- 
makers, but  they  will  make  poor  fighters.  The  in- 
dependence of  the  South  is  assured.  This  being  the 
fact,  does  not  the  salvation,  the  future  prosperity  of 
the  State  depend  on  Missouri  joining  its  sister  slave 
States?  Now,  gentlemen,  what  are  your  objections, 
if  you  have  any?  " 

"  In  the  first  place,"  spoke  up  one  of  the  hesitat- 
ing members,  "  the  State  has  just  voted  by  eighty 


A  DREAM  OF  EMPIRE  207 

thousand  majority,  to  remain  in  the  Union.  If  I 
understand  the  doctrine  of  State  Rights,  that  vote 
should  bind  us/' 

"  That  vote  would  be  reversed,  should  Lincoln 
attempt  to  coerce  a  single  State/'  spoke  up  the 
Governor.  "  Sterling  Price  has  been  elected  presi- 
dent of  the  convention.  We  have  many  friends 
among  the  delegates,  who  will  be  with  us,  if  a  single 
shot  be  fired  against  the  South.  Sterling  Price  has 
assured  me  he  will  be  with  us.  He  is  for  the  Union 
if  it  can  be  preserved  without  bloodshed,  not 
otherwise." 

"  The  North  may  consent  to  let  the  cotton  States 
go,"  said  another  member,  "  but  I  cannot  see  how 
they  can  consent  to  let  Missouri  and  the  other  border 
slave  States  go.  Look  at  the  position  of  this  State. 
It  controls  the  upper  Missouri ;  it  controls  the  mouth 
of  the  Ohio ;  it  eats  right  into  the  heart  of  the  North ; 
it  is  surrounded  on  three  sides  by  free  States,  for 
the  fight  for  Kansas  is  already  lost.  You  may  be 
assured  the  North  will  fight,  before  it  gives  up 
Missouri." 

"  Then  let  war  come,"  shouted  the  fiery  Vest. 
"  I  am  ready  and  willing  to  follow  Old  Virginia 
wherever  she  may  lead,  and  no  one  can  doubt  that 
she  will  go  with  the  South.  I  defy  the  convention,  I 
defy  the  submissionists,  I  will  never  submit  to 
Northern  rule." 

This  sentiment  of  Vest  was  wildly  applauded. 


208  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

"  It  seems  to  me/'  spoke  up  another,  "  that  if  we 
go  to  war,  we  shall  lose  the  very  thing  for  which 
we  are  contending  —  slavery.  I  have  just  read  Lin- 
coln's inaugural  address,  and  I  see  that  in  it  he 
solemnly  assures  the  South  that  he  has  no  intention 
of  interfering  with  slavery  where  it  is;  that  he  will 
protect  it  in  its  constitutional  rights.  It  is  only  the 
extension  of  slavery  to  which  he  is  opposed.  Now, 
if  the  South  secedes  does  she  not  forever  cut  off  all 
hope  of  the  extension  of  slavery?  " 

"  No/'  thundered  Jackson,  "  Lincoln's  proposi- 
tion is  to  throttle  slavery,  choke  it  to  death  by  slow 
degrees.  Better  have  it  die,  and  die  at  once." 

"  But/'  urged  the  objector,  "  I  have  heard  that 
Lincoln  has  said  that  it  would  be  better  for  the 
United  States  to  buy  every  slave,  and  pay  the  market 
price,  than  have  one  year  of  war.  That  would  make 
the  South  fabulously  rich,  and  we  would  still  have 
the  negroes  to  work  for  us.  If  we  go  to  war  and 
win,  slavery  would  still  be  hemmed  in,  even  if  we 
got  the  Territories  west  of  us,  for  these  Territories 
are  barren  wastes;  but  west  of  the  Northern  States 
are  vast  Territories.  The  North  would  grow  richer 
and  more  powerful  all  the  time,  the  South 
weaker  and  poorer/' 

"  What  has  been  said/'  replied  Mr.  Glenn,  "  only 
shows  that  some  of  you  gentlemen  little  understand 
the  aim  and  purposes  of  the  South.  I  am  here  to 
tell  you  what  they  are.  In  the  first  place,  the  North 


A  DREAM  OF  EMPIRE  209 

would  never  consent  to  buy  our  slaves ;  in  the  second 
place,  the  South  would  never  consent  to  sell.  So 
that  talk  of  Mr.  Lincoln  of  buying  our  slaves  is  pure 
nonsense.  Slavery  is  the  chief  corner-stone  of  the 
Confederacy.  It  is  the  only  nation  ever  established 
that  recognizes  slavery  as  a  divine  institution,  es- 
tablished by  God,  for  the  good  of  the  world.  It  is 
written  that  Ham  shall  serve,  and  no  laws  of  man 
can  alter  that  divine  decree.  The  South  has  been 
preparing  for  this  for  years.  In  fact,  we  rejoice  that 
Lincoln  was  elected  President.  We  split  the  Na- 
tional Democratic  Convention  for  that  very  purpose. 
Our  leaders  have  the  future  of  the  South  all  mapped 
out.  Forces  are  now  at  work  to  bring  it  about. 

"  What  if  the  North  decides  to  let  us  go  in  peace  — 
that  the  National  Government  has  no  right  to  coerce 
us?  That  establishes  the  right  of  secession.  Any 
State  can  withdraw  from  the  Union  if  it  wishes. 
No  State  in  the  Confederacy  will  wish  to  secede, 
for  slavery  will  be  the  chain  which  will  bind  us 
together,  and  to  break  a  single  link  would  be  death. 
Not  so  with  the  North.  You  say  it  is  richer  and 
more  powerful  than  the  South.  It  will  not  long  be 
so.  Our  friends  in  the  North,  and  they  are  legion 
and  powerful,  are  only  waiting  for  the  Southern 
Confederacy  to  be  an  assured  fact,  when  they  will 
form  a  Northwestern  Confederacy.  They  are  sick 
and  tired  of  the  domination  of  New  England. 

"  If  war  be  declared,  the  break  will  come  quicker, 


210  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

for  we  shall  be  successful,  and  the  Northwest  will 
refuse  to  bear  its  part  of  the  burden  of  the  war. 
The  Pacific  States  will  form  a  nation  of  their  own. 
In  fact,  within  ten  years  after  the  independence  of 
the  South  is  acknowledged,  I  look  for  the  North  to 
be  divided  into  at  least  three,  if  not  four,  different 
nations.  This  result  is  sure  to  come.  Therefore, 
instead  of  being  strong,  the  North  will  be  divided, 
and  be  weak,  and  the  South  can  enforce  any  de- 
mand that  it  makes.  We  shall  claim  Kansas  and 
all  territory  west  of  Kansas  to  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains. 

"That  is  not  all.  It  is  to  the  south  of  us  that 
our  empire  really  lies.  We  will  take  Cuba.  We 
should  have  had  it  long  ago,  if  it  had  not  been  for 
the  fanatical  North.  It  should  be  ours  by  right. 
Mexico  rent  by  its  continual  revolutions,  would  fall 
an  easy  prey,  and  we  would  push  our  conquest 
clear  down  to  the  isthmus.  We  shall  have  an  empire 
that  would  rival  Rome  in  her  palmiest  day.  To  cul- 
tivate this  vast  domain,  we  would  legalize  the  Afri- 
can slave  trade,  with  humane  provisions.  The  South 
will  be  the  grandest,  the  greatest,  the  most  glorious 
power  of  all  the  earth.  Should  not  such  a  prospect 
fire  the  heart  of  every  true  Southerner?  Can  Mis- 
souri afford  to  sit  back,  and  not  have  a  part  in  it? 

"  That,  gentlemen,  is  what  the  South  has  been 
dreaming  of,  working  for,  for  years.  The  time  has 
come  for  the  dream  to  become  a  fact.  The  sun  has 


A  DREAM  OF  EMPIRE  211 

arisen  on  the  great  Southern  Confederacy;  it  will 
never  set." 

Those  present  had  listened  in  breathless  atten- 
tion. They  saw  the  vision  in  all  its  glory,  and  it 
swept  them  from  their  feet. 

Let  us  thank  God,  it  was  a  dream  which  has  not 
been  verified. 


CHAPTER  XVI 

THE  CALL  TO  ARMS 

IF  Basil  Duke  and  Colton  Green  had  had  their 
way,  when  their  plot  to  create  a  riot  failed, 
they  boldly  would  have  stormed  the  arsenal; 
but  they  were  held  back  by  Governor  Jackson.  It 
was  also  doubtful,  if  they  had  stormed  it,  if  they 
could  have  captured  it,  for  it  was  now  garrisoned  by 
five  hundred  men. 

For  the  part  which  Lawrence  had  played  in  the 
affair  of  the  fourth,  he  received  the  heartiest  com- 
mendation from  both  Blair  and  Lyon.  "Lieu- 
tenant," said  Lyon,  "we  owe  you  much,  and  when 
war  comes,  as  it  will  come,  I  shall  remember  you. 
That  spy  of  yours  does  his  work  well.  I  hope  he 
will  keep  it  up,  but  it  is  dangerous  business/' 

"I  saw  him,"  said  Lawrence,  laughing,  "among 
the  Minute  Men  in  the  Berthold  mansion.  He  was 
among  the  most  active,  and  the  way  he  handed  down 
insulting  epithets  to  us  was  a  caution." 

"  If  he  keeps  us  as  well  posted  as  he  has,"  said 
Blair,  "  they  at  least  cannot  take  us  by  surprise." 

Now  came  some  weeks  of  intrigue,  plot,  and  coun- 
ter plot.  While  Duke  and  Green  were  away,  the 
Minute  Men  were  not  so  active ;  but  Frost  never  lost 


THE  CALL  TO  ARMS  213 

sight  of  the  fact  that  he  must  have  the  arsenal. 
What  Lyon  feared  was  a  sudden  and  secret  attack, 
and  that  Hagner  would  give  it  up  without  a  blow. 
He  pleaded  with  Hagner  to  strengthen  the  defences 
of  the  arsenal;  but  this  Hagner  not  only  refused  to 
do,  but  refused  to  let  Lyon  do  it.  Both  Hagner  and 
Harney  declared  that  the  arsenal  was  in  no  danger. 
Lyon  now  averred  that  his  commission  as  captain 
in  the  regular  army  antedated  Hagner's,  and  that 
he  should  have  supreme  command.  The  quarrel  was 
taken  to  General  Harney,  and  also  to  General  Scott 
at  Washington,  and  both  sustained  Hagner.  But 
Blair  and  Lyon  did  not  give  up  the  fight.  They 
stormed  Washington  with  petitions,  and  at  last 
received  an  order  that  Lyon  might  command  the 
troops,  but  Hagner  should  still  control  the  arms  and 
munitions  of  war  in  the  arsenal. 

About  this  time  there  came  another  important 
communication  from  Guilford  Craig.  It  was  to  the 
effect  that  Basil  Duke  and  Colton  Green  had  been 
sent  on  a  secret  mission  to  Jefferson  Davis,  by  Gov- 
ernor Jackson  and  General  Frost.  The  object  was 
to  secure  cannon  from  the  Confederacy  to  batter 
down  the  walls  of  the  arsenal,  should  it  be  found 
necessary  to  take  it  by  force.  The  communication 
also  stated  that  Frost  was  negotiating  with  captains 
of  steamboats  to  see  if  they  would  not  secretly  bring 
cannon  up  on  their  boats,  and  at  a  given  signal,  open 
fire  on  the  arsenal. 


214  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

All  these  things  troubled  Lyon,  and  made  him 
doubly  vigilant.  Among  the  officers  at  the  arsenal 
there  were  some  whose  loyalty  was  unquestioned, 
and  on  whom  Lyon  could  depend.  Preeminent 
among  these  officers  were  Captains  Sweeney  and 
Saxton,  and  Lieutenant  Lathrop.  Lawrence  will 
never  forget  the  day  that  Lyon  called  these  officers 
in  consultation.  Only  Frank  Blair  and  Lawrence 
were  present  with  Lyon  at  the  interview.  Fixing 
his  keen  eyes  on  the  officers,  Lyon  suddenly  asked 
this  startling  question: 

"  If  a  mob  surrounded  the  arsenal,  as  did  a  mob 
the  Little  Rock  arsenal,  and  if  the  Governor  de- 
manded that  the  arsenal  should  be  surrendered  to 
him  to  prevent  bloodshed,  and  Major  Hagner  should 
surrender  it,  what  would  you  do?" 

For  full  a  minute,  not  a  word  was  said.  The 
three  officers  gazed  at  each  other,  and  their  faces 
grew  pale.  The  silence  became  oppressive.  Lyon 
sat  with  his  eyes  fixed  upon  them,  as  if  he  would 
read  their  very  hearts. 

At  length  Captain  Sweeney  slowly  raised  his  hand 
toward  heaven,  and  said  slowly,  but  with  terrible 
emphasis :  "  As  God  is  my  judge,  I  would  shoot 
Hagner  as  a  traitor,  assume  command,  if  no  one 
else  would,  and  defend  the  arsenal  to  the  last." 

"  And  I  would  do  the  same,"  echoed  both  Saxton 
and  Lathrop. 

A  flame  leaped  into  Lyon's  eyes.    "  And  I  would 


THE  CALL  TO  ARMS  215 

do  the  same ! "  he  exclaimed.  "  If  I  knew  I  should 
be  court-martialled  and  shot  for  the  act." 

Frank  Blair  gazed  in  admiration  at  the  men. 
"  With  such  officers  as  you,  gentlemen,  that  arsenal 
can  never  be  taken,"  he  said ;  "  and  if  the  authorities 
in  Washington  can't  see  an  inch  beyond  their  noses, 
we  will  start  a  little  rebellion  of  our  own,  if 
necessary." 

Lawrence  always  remembered  that  scene  as  one 
of  the  most  remarkable  he  witnessed  during  the  war 
—  subordinate  officers  swearing  death  to  a  superior, 
if  he  persisted  in  treason. 

Suddenly  a  bomb-shell  fell  into  the  ranks  of  the 
Unionists.  By  secret  intrigue,  and  false  represen- 
tations, that  Blair  and  Lyon  were  doing  the  cause 
of  the  Union  more  hurt  than  good,  an  order  came 
from  the  War  Department  for  Lyon  to  go  to  Fort 
Leavenworth. 

There  was  great  rejoicing  among  the  disloyal 
element  when  the  order  came.  At  that  time  Lin- 
coln was  handling  the  border  States  very  carefully, 
in  the  hope  that  by  hearkening  to  the  so-called  conser- 
vatives he  might  save  the  States  to  the  Union.  It  was 
this  conservatism  which  so  angered  General  Nelson 
in  Kentucky.  Whether  Lincoln's  course  was  the 
wisest  or  not  will  never  be  known,  but  the  fact  re- 
mains that  if  it  had  not  been  for  General  Nelson  in 
Kentucky,  and  Blair  and  Lyon  in  Missouri,  both 
States  would  have  been  lost  to  the  Union.  It  was  no 


216  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

gloved  affair  with  these  men;  they  struck  with  an 
iron  hand,  and  their  boldness  and  courage  saved 
those  States  from  open  rebellion. 

With  Lyon  gone,  nothing  would  prevent  Hagner 
from  giving  up  the  arsenal,  if  he  so  willed.  Frank 
Blair  once  more  threw  himself  into  the  breach. 
What  does  not  the  nation  owe  to  this  man?  He 
achieved  victories  by  his  firmness  and  boldness,  as 
great  as  were  ever  won  by  Grant  or  Sherman  on  the 
field  of  battle.  He  at  once  repaired  to  Washington, 
and  by  his  protests  and  representations,  he  induced 
General  Scott  to  rescind  his  order  transferring  Lyon 
to  Fort  Leavenworth.  Once  more  had  the  machina- 
tions of  the  conspirators  failed.  Lyon  would  still 
remain  as  the  watchdog  of  the  arsenal. 

On  April  12,  the  guns  of  Fort  Sumter  echoed 
and  reechoed  through  the  land.  The  North  awoke 
from  its  slumber.  War  had  come ;  the  Union  could 
be  preserved  only  by  the  sword.  Throughout  the 
South  the  firing  on  Sumter  was  received  with  the 
wildest  demonstrations  of  joy ;  throughout  the  North 
with  a  grim  determination  that  the  Union  must  be 
preserved  at  all  hazards. 

In  Missouri  the  call  to  arms  was  welcome  to  both 
sides.  In  fact  the  State  had  been  in  the  throes  of 
civil  strife  for  months.  Thousands  of  Union  men 
had  been  driven  from  their  homes.  Governor  Jack- 
son, notwithstanding  his  loud  protestations  of  pre- 
serving the  peace,  had  done  nothing  to  protect  them. 


THE  CALL  TO  ARMS  217 

St.  Louis  was  already  filling  up  with  refugees  fleeing 
from  their  homes,  their  only  crime,  that  they  loved 
the  flag  of  their  country.  From  the  very  first,  the 
secessionists  had  begun  the  mobbing  and  lynching 
of  Union  men,  and  the  civil  authorities  looked  quietly 
on.  Governor  Jackson  had  a  queer  way  of  preserv- 
ing the  peace. 

The  Call  to  Arms  caused  the  waverers  to  take 
sides.  A  man  had  to  be  for  the  Union  or  against 
it.  The  conditional  Union  men  we/e  swept  out  of 
existence.  To  President  Lincoln's  call  for  troops, 
Governor  Jackson  sent  an  insolent  reply.  "  Not  one 
man  will  Missouri  furnish  to  coerce  the  South." 
It  afterwards  furnished  over  one  hundred  thousand. 
The  declaration  of  war  encouraged  Governor  Jack- 
son and  General  Frost  to  renewed  efforts  to  take  the 
State  out  of  the  Union,  and  to  capture  the  arsenal. 
All  over  the  State,  the  secessionists  became  active; 
a  reign  of  terror  was  beginning. 

The  day  after  Sumter  fell,  Lawrence  met  Guil- 
ford  Craig  on  the  street.  Without  appearing  to 
notice  him,  Craig  said:  "You  will  find  an  im- 
portant communication  in  the  secret  place  to-night. 
But  I  wish  to  tell  you  something  I  dare  not  put  on 
paper,  for  if  the  paper  were  found,  it  would  tell  who 
wrote  it.  I  have  been  detailed  as  an  orderly  to 
General  Frost.  I  have  charge  of  his  quarters.  I 
have  had  a  duplicate  key  to  his  desk  made,  and  here- 
after his  secrets  are  my  secrets." 


218  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

He  said  no  more,  and  sauntered  on.  Never  once 
had  Craig  looked  toward  Lawrence,  as  he  was  telling 
it.  Apparently  they  were  strangers.  Lawrence 
looked  after  him  in  wonder.  What  kind  of  a  boy 
was  this,  who  seemed  to  take  delight  in  his  duplicity  ? 

Lawrence  could  hardly  wait  for  the  communica- 
tion. About  midnight  he  found  it,  and  taking  it  to 
the  seclusion  of  his  room,  he  read  it.  Important  it 
was,  and  early  the  next  morning,  he  lost  no  time  in 
carrying  the  communication  to  Blair  and  Lyon. 
These  gentlemen  read  it  through  carefully,  and 
Lyon  smiled  grimly  as  he  said:  "Forewarned  is 
forearmed.  But  what  I  should  like  to  know  is  how 
your  correspondent  got  hold  of  that  private  paper  of 
Frost's.  It  looks  as  if  it  were  some  one  close  to 
him." 

Lawrence  replied,  "  I  should  like  to  tell  you,  if 
I  could ;  but  I  don't  like  to  cut  off  the  source  of  in- 
formation." 

"I  should  say  not,"  said  Lyon,  "as  long  as  the 
source  keeps  up." 

The  information  sent  was  that  General  Frost 
had  mapped  out  a  course  of  procedure,  that  it  had 
been  submitted  to  Governor  Jackson,  who  had  fully 
endorsed  it.  It  was  as  follows : 

First:  Convene  the  General  Assembly. 

'Second:  Send  an  agent  to  the  South  to  procure 
mortars  and  siege  guns. 


THE  CALL   TO  ARMS  219 

Third:  Prevent  the  garrisoning  of  the  Liberty 
arsenal. 

Fourth:  Warn  the  people  that  the  calling  out  of 
troops  by  President  Lincoln  was  illegal. 

Fifth:  Order  me  [Frost]  to  form  a  military  camp 
near  St.  Louis. 

Sixth:  Order  General  Bowen  to  report  to  me 
[Frost]. 

General  Bowen  commanded  the  Missouri  militia 
in  the  western  part  of  the  State,  and  Frost's  object 
was  to  get  as  large  a  force  of  the  militia  to  attack 
the  arsenal  as  possible.  What  would  have  been  the 
feelings  of  General  Frost,  if  he  had  known  that  his 
secret  plan  was  in  the  hands  of  Lyon,  is  not  hard  to 
imagine. 

The  Legislature  before  it  adjourned  had,  in 
obedience  to  the  wishes  of  the  Governor,  passed  a 
law  placing  the  police  force  of  St.  Louis  in  the 
hands  of  commissioners  appointed  by  him.  St.  Louis 
had  elected  a  Democratic  Mayor  in  April.  Thus  the 
whole  machinery  of  the  city  government  was  in 
the  hands  of  the  secessionists. 

The  hatred  of  the  Southern  element  had  become 
so  intense  against  the  Germans  that  a  series  of  brutal 
assaults  began,  and  in  some  cases  murder  was  com- 
mitted. The  police  winked  at  these  outrages,  and 
an  arrest  was  seldom  made.  In  turn,  the  Germans 
became  greatly  incensed,  and  threatened  retalia- 


220  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

tion.  It  was  with  the  utmost  difficulty  that  Frank 
Blair  and  the  officers  of  the  Home  Guards  held  them 
back. 

One  day  word  was  brought  to  Lawrence  that 
Ernest  Kuenster,  a  young  member  of  his  company, 
had  been  caught  by  three  Minute  Men,  and  so  bru- 
tally beaten  that  he  lived  but  a  short  time ;  and  that 
the  neighborhood  in  which  he  lived  was  organizing 
for  vengeance. 

Lawrence  hastened  to  the  scene,  and  none  too 
soon.  The  incensed  Germans  had  caught  two  of  the 
Minute  Men,  and  were  beating  them  to  death.  Law- 
rence arrived  just  as  the  men  had  been  knocked 
down,  and  the  crowd  were  about  to  jump  upon 
them,  and  crush  them  beneath  their  heavy  feet. 

"Hold!"  he  cried  in  German,  "hold,  on  your 
lives!  These  men  must  not  be  killed." 

Most  of  the  mob  knew  him,  a  number  were  mem- 
bers of  his  company.  Among  them  was  Carl 
Mayer. 

"Carl,  you  in  this!"  cried  Lawrence;  "I  am 
astonished.  Now  help  me  to  pacify  this  gathering." 

A  hoarse  growl  went  up  from  the  mob ;  they  did 
not  wish  to  be  balked  of  their  prey.  But  the  Ger- 
mans, above  all  people,  have  learned  obedience  to  law, 
and  when  the  members  of  Lawrence's  company  heard 
one  of  their  officers  commanding  them  to  keep  order, 
they  obeyed  without  hesitation.  The  mob  were  told 


THE  CALL  TO  ARMS  221 

to  disperse,  and  the  two  young  men  assaulted  were 
helped  to  their  feet.  To  Lawrence's  surprise,  he 
saw  that  one  of  them  was  his  cousin,  and  the  other 
Randolph  Hamilton,  the  brother  of  Dorothy 
Hamilton. 

"Carl,  you  live  close  by/'  said  Lawrence,  "help 
me  to  get  these  two  young  men  into  your  house,  as 
soon  as  possible."  Both  the  young  men  seemed 
dazed,  and  made  no  resistance.  Once  in  the  house, 
the  blood  was  washed  from  their  faces,  and  their 
wounds  carefully  dressed.  Although  both  were 
much  bruised,  it  was  found  that  neither  was  se- 
riously hurt. 

"  There,  you  are  all  right,  old  fellow/'  said  Law- 
rence to  Edward,  after  he  had  got  him  into  shape, 
"but  it  is  fortunate  I  came  just  as  I  did/' 

Edward  had  little  to  say.  That  Lawrence  had 
saved  his  life,  was  a  bitter  pill  for  him  to  swallow; 
but  young  Hamilton  was  profuse  in  his  thanks. 

Lawrence  found  out  that  it  was  really  his  cousin 
who  had  started  the  mob,  by  snatching  a  flag  from 
a  German  girl,  and  throwing  it  down,  and  trampling 
upon  it;  at  the  same  time  uttering  some  coarse 
remark. 

After  everything  had  been  done  for  them  that 
could  be  done,  and  they  had  somewhat  recovered, 
Lawrence  called  a  cab,  and  sent  them  home.  At  the 
parting,  Edward  gave  Lawrence  his  hand,  and  a 


222  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

short  "Thank  you";  but  Hamilton  pressed  him  to 
call,  so  that  his  parents  as  well  as  himself  might 
more  fully  thank  him  for  his  kindness. 

There  was  excitement  in  both  households  on  the 
arrival  of  the  young  men  at  their  respective  homes. 

Edward  told  his  story  to  his  father  and  mother. 
"  I  suppose  I  did  a  very  foolish  thing/'  said  Edward, 
"  but  when  a  Dutch  huzzy  shook  a  Yankee  flag  in  my 
face,  I  snatched  it  from  her,  threw  it  down,  and 
trampled  upon  it,  and  called  her  a  vile  name.  I 
don't  know  where  they  all  came  from,  but  I  had 
not  walked  twenty  yards  before  we  were  surrounded 
by  the  mob,  and  it  would  have  been  all  day  with  us, 
if  Lawrence  had  not  put  in  an  appearance.  I  owe 
my  life  to  him, —  there  is  no  denying  it, —  and  I  had 
rather  be  indebted  to  any  one  else." 

"  I  don't  see  why,"  said  his  mother,  "  When  Law- 
rence left,  he  told  me  he  had  nothing  but  love  for 
you,  and  that  if  you  two  ever  met  on  the  battlefield, 
he  would  protect  your  life,  even  at  the  expense  of 
his  own." 

"  I  can't  understand  it,"  said  Edward,  "  the  Union 
men  don't  seem  to  have  any  personal  feeling  in  the 
matter;  they  say  it  is  not  individuals  they  are 
fighting,  but  in  defence  of  the  flag  of  their  country. 
Now  I  hate  every  Yankee,  hate  them  with  an  eternal 
hatred.  That  I  should  be  indebted  to  Lawrence  for 
my  life,  after  I  was  the  cause  of  his  being  turned 


THE  CALL   TO  ARMS  223 

out  of  this  house,  is  humiliating  to  my  pride.  But 
if  I  ever  meet  him  in  battle,  I  will  show  him  no 
Southern  gentleman  can  be  outdone  in  chivalry  by  a 
Yankee/' 

"  Edward,  you  are  altogether  too  hot-headed/' 
said  his  father.  "By  your  own  account  you  in- 
sulted the  girl.  What  if  any  one  had  bestowed  such 
an  epithet  on  your  sister?" 

"I  would  shoot  him  on  sight;  but  these  Dutch 
girls—" 

"Their  reputation  is  just  as  sacred  to  them  as  the 
reputation  of  our  daughters  is  to  us/'  said  his 
father. 

"I  can't  believe  it,"  said  Edward. 

"  There  is  where  you  make  a  mistake/'  answered 
Mr.  Middleton.  "  You  seem  to  think  because  you 
are  a  Southerner  you  are  of  a  little  finer  clay  than 
other  people.  And  I  am  afraid  the  whole  Southern 
people  are  making  the  same  mistake.  You  despise 
the  Yankees,  and  think  they  will  not  fight.  Never 
was  a  greater  mistake  made.  There  is  a  long  and 
bloody  war  before  us.  God  only  knows  how  it  will 
end." 

"I  can't  think  it,"  said  Edward;  "we  shall  just 
eat  the  Yankees  and  Dutch  up,  when  we  get  started/' 

His  father  sighed,  and  did  not  answer.  He  knew 
the  North,  and  felt  that  the  South  was  underrating 
the  fighting  qualities  of  its  people.  But  after  Edward 


224  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

went  out,  Mr.  Middleton  said  to  his  wife,  "Law- 
rence did  just  what  I  should  have  expected  of  him; 
there  is  noble  blood  in  the  boy." 

In  the  Hamilton  household  also  there  was  excite- 
ment, when  Randolph  appeared.  He  praised  his 
deliverer  without  stint.  "  I  always  liked  Lawrence 
Middleton,"  he  added.  "What  a  pity  he  turned 
Yankee.!" 

"Perhaps  it  was  a  good  thing  for  you  that  he 
did  turn  Yankee,"  said  his  mother.  "  If  he  had 
not  been  with  the  Yankees,  he  could  not  have  saved 
you." 

"  That 's  so,"  answered  Randolph.  "  What  do 
you  think,  sis  ?  "  addressing  Dorothy.  "  Don't  you 
think  Lawrence  is  a  fine  fellow  ?  "  Now  Randolph 
was  a  great  favorite  with  Dorothy,  and  it  distressed 
her  beyond  measure  to  see  him  all  bruised  up. 

"I  hate  him,"  said  Dorothy.  "I  saw  him  the 
other  day,  and  told  him  never  to  speak  to  me  again." 

"  Why,  I  thought  he  was  a  special  favorite  of 
yours,"  said  Randolph.  "  If  I  mistake  not,  I  have 
often  heard  you  sing  his  praises." 

"So  I  did,  until  he  turned  Yankee,"  pouted  the 
girl,  "  and  —  and  —  " 

"And  what?"  asked  Randolph. 

"  He  —  he  actually  said  to  me  that  Lola  Laselle 
is  better  looking  than  I  am." 

"  Ha !  ha !  there  is  where  the  shoe  pinches,  is  it," 
laughed  Randolph.  "But,  sis,  I  agree  with  him; 


THE  CALL  TO  ARMS  225 

and  if  Lola  were  a  little  older,  I  should  have  another 
grievance  against  young  Middleton,  beside  being  a 
Yankee.  But  how  did  he  come  to  tell  you  Lola  was 
better  looking  than  you?" 

"  Oh !  I  met  Lola,  and  cut  her  dead,  because  her 
folks  are  Union.  Lawrence  came  across  her  crying, 
and  he  told  her  I  had  cut  her  on  account  of  jealousy, 
because  she  was  better  looking/' 

"  Served  you  right,  sis,  —  better  apologize  to  him 
the  next  time  you  meet  him." 

"What!  apologize  to  a  Yankee?"  she  asked,  in 
surprise. 

"Certainly.  Did  n't  he  save  my  life?  Or  don't 
that  count?" 

"Oh,  Dolph,"  cried  Dorothy  throwing  her  arms 
around  his  neck,  and  kissing  his  bruised  cheek,  "I 
should  have  died  if  you  had  been  killed.  I  will 
thank  him,  if  I  see  him;  but  I  hate  him  all  the  same." 

"  You  and  Ed  Middleton  would  make  a  good 
team,"  said  Randolph ;  "  he  hates  everything  that 
smells  of  Yankeedom." 

The  next  day  Lawrence  happened  to  meet  Dor- 
othy on  the  street.  He  was  somewhat  surprised 
that  instead  of  passing  him  with  her  head  up,  she 
stopped  and  held  out  her  hand.  "  I  hate  you,  Law- 
rence Middleton,"  she  exclaimed,  "  but  I  want  to 
thank  you  for  saving  Dolph  from  those  horrid 
Dutch." 

"Now  that  is  real  nice  in  you,  since  you  told 


226  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

me  you  would  never  speak  to  me  again,"  replied 
Lawrence.  "  Now  please  quit  hating  me,  and  let  us 
be  good  friends." 

"  Can't  do  it,  as  long  as  you  stay  with  the  Yan- 
kees. Say,  there  is  going  to  be  war,  is  there  not?" 

"  Yes,  there  is  war  already." 

"And  are  you  going  to  be  a  Yankee  soldier?" 

"  If  they  will  let  me.  I  am  rather  young,  you 
know." 

"  Hope  you  will  get  killed ! "  And  with  this  kind 
wish  she  left  him. 

Lawrence  was  not  much  surprised  when  he  re- 
ceived a  kind  letter  from  his  uncle,  in  which  he 
heartily  thanked  him  for  the  aid  rendered  Edward. 
"  Both  your  aunt  and  I  send  you  love,"  he  wrote. 

Lawrence  highly  treasured  this  letter. 


CHAPTER  XVII 

CAMP  JACKSON 

THE  days  which  followed  the  firing  on  Fort 
Sumter,  and  the  discovery  of  the  programme 
of   Governor  Jackson   and   General   Frost, 
were  days  of  excitement.     Although  hampered  by 
the  officials  at  Washington  who  refused  to  remove 
Major   Hagner,    Blair    and    Lyon   bent   all    their 
energies  to  meet  the  coming  storm. 

After  Governor  Jackson  had  refused,  in  the  most 
insulting  manner,  the  regiments  which  President 
Lincoln  had  called  for  from  the  State,  Frank  Blair, 
at  once,  proffered  his  regiments  of  Home  Guards 
which  he  had  raised.  They  were  accepted  and  Law- 
rence found  himself  sworn  into  the  United  States 
service,  as  Second  Lieutenant,  to  serve  in  the  State 
of  Missouri.  He  was  at  once  detailed  on  the  staff  of 
Captain  Lyon,  and  placed  at  the  head  of  his  secret 
service.  This  was  a  very  responsible  position  for  a 
boy  not  yet  seventeen  years  of  age.  But  as  we  have 
stated,  Lawrence  was  large  for  his  age,  and  looked 
at  least  two  years  older  than  he  was.  From  the 
time  of  his  appointment  up  to  the  day  of  Lyon's 
death,  Lawrence  held  the  most  confidential  relations 
with  the  General,  and  learned  to  love  him  with  his 
whole  heart. 


228  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

On  April  20,  the  United  States  arsenal  at  Liberty, 
Missouri,  was  seized,  and  this  in  the  face  of  the 
continued  assertions  of  Governor  Jackson  and  Gen- 
eral Frost  that  they  had  no  designs  on  United 
States  property  in  the  State.  The  arsenal  was  a 
small  one,  and  contained  only  four  cannon,  and 
about  eight  hundred  muskets.  The  arms  were  taken 
possession  of  by  Frost's  State  Guards.  No  apology 
was  offered  by  Governor  Jackson  for  the  seizure. 

This  action  aroused  the  authorities  at  Washing- 
ton. They  began  to  open  their  eyes  to  the  state  of 
affairs  in  Missouri.  Major  Hagner  was  removed, 
Lyon  made  a  Brigadier-general  of  Volunteers,  and 
placed  in  command  of  all  the  troops  in  St.  Louis, 
and  also  in  control  of  the  arsenal.  General  Harney 
was  still  in  command  of  the  Department  of  the  West, 
but  he  was  soon  ordered  to 'Washington  to  give  an 
account  of  his  stewardship,  and  this  left  General 
Lyon  in  full  command. 

Lyon  now  moved  swiftly.  He  armed  five  regi- 
ments of  Blair's  Home  Guards,  kept  five  thousand 
more  muskets  for  regiments  to  be  raised  in  the 
future  and  turned  over  ten  thousand  muskets  to  Gov- 
ernor Yates  of  Illinois  with  which  to  arm  the  Illi- 
nois troops  then  being  raised.  But  Lyon  was  taking 
no  chances  on  the  remaining  arms  and  munitions  of 
war  in  the  arsenal.  On  the  night  of  April  26,  the 
steamer  City  of  Alton  quietly  drifted  down  the  river 
in  front  of  the  arsenal,  and  all  the  arms  which  re- 


CAMP  JACKSON  229 

mained  were  quietly  but  quickly  transferred  on 
board,  and  by  morning  were  safely  in  Alton,  Illinois. 

When  St.  Louis  awoke  in  the  morning,  they 
found  nothing  in  the  arsenal  worth  fighting  for. 
All  the  plotting  of  Governor  Jackson  and  General 
Frost  had  come  to  naught.  This  move  on  the  part 
of  Lyon  brought  consternation  to  the  hearts  of 
the  secessionists.  But  though  they  had  lost  the  arms, 
the  city  and  the  State  remained  to  be  fought  for. 
The  only  hope  of  carrying  the  State  into  rebellion 
was  through  the  organization  of  the  State  Guards; 
and  so  Governor  Jackson  and  General  Frost  went 
on  to  carry  out  their  programme  as  planned.  It 
had  been  the  intention  of  Frost  to  encamp  his  State 
Guards  on  the  hills  which  commanded  the  arsenal, 
so  that  when  the  cannon  asked  for  arrived  from  the 
South,  he  could  batter  down  its  walls;  but  the  re- 
moval of  the  arms  had  made  this  unnecessary.  Lyon 
also  had  taken  the  precaution  to  occupy  the  hills 
with  his  troops;  so  General  Frost  established  his 
camp  in  a  beautiful  wooded  valley,  known  as  Lin- 
dell  Grove,  near  the  intersection  of  Olive  Street  and 
Grand  Avenue.  In  honor  of  the  Governor,  Frost 
named  it  Camp  Jackson.  It  was  a  place  that  in  a 
few  days  was  to  become  historic. 

In  the  meantime,  Governor  Jackson  had  received 
a  loving  letter  from  President  Davis,  promising  to 
send  the  cannon  asked  for  (stolen  from  the  United 
States  arsenal  at  Baton  Rouge),  and  stating  that 


230  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

he  was  anxiously  looking  forward  to  the  day  when 
Missouri  would  take  her  place  in  the  Confederacy. 

On  May  6,  General  Frost  was  ready  to  move  out 
to  Camp  Jackson  with  his  Guards.  It  was  a  gala 
day  in  St.  Louis.  Every  secessionist  in  the  city  was 
out  to  see  them  go.  The  streets  were  crowded  with 
an  excited,  cheering  throng.  It  was  a  brave  man 
who  would  have  expressed  publicly  Union  senti- 
ments that  day.  There  were  about  eight  hundred  of 
the  Guards,  the  flower  of  the  Southern  chivalry  of 
the  city.  A  grand  appearance  they  made,  with  gay 
uniforms,  prancing  horses,  and  waving  flags. 
Proudly  they  marched  through  the  streets  of  the 
city,  cheered  by  the  thousands  who  thronged  the 
line  of  march.  Fair  women  waved  their  handker- 
chiefs and  shouted  until  their  pretty  throats  were 
sore.  They  scattered  flowers  in  the  pathway  of 
their  heroes,  and  prophesied  that  they  would  sweep 
from  the  earth  Blair's  Dutchmen. 

"Any  one  of  those  men  is  a  match  for  ten  of 
Blair's  Dutch,"  was  the  cry,  and  that  deluded,  ex- 
cited throng  believed  it. 

As  for  the  Union  men,  and  Germans  of  the  city, 
they  had  been  cautioned  to  make  no  demonstra- 
tion, and  to  keep  away  from  the  line  of  march ;  there- 
fore the  secessionists  had  it  all  their  own  way.  It 
was  a  continual  ovation  from  the  time  Frost  started 
until  he  reached  camp. 

Above  the  camp  floated  the  Stars  and  Stripes. 


CAMP  JACKSON  231 

Not  one  of  the  Guards  but  loathed  that  flag  and 
looked  upon  it  with  contempt.  The  excitable  women 
who  thronged  the  camp  looked  upon  it  in  horror, 
and  demanded  that  it  be  lowered. 

"You  ladies  must  not  be  impatient/'  said  an 
officer.  "We  have  to  keep  it  flying  to  show  that 
we  are  true  and  loyal  citizens  of  the  United  States, 
until  the  time  comes  for  us  to  change,  then,  presto, 
down  it  comes,  and  the  flag  of  the  glorious  Southern 
Confederacy  goes  up  in  its  stead." 

"I  hate  hypocrisy,"  exclaimed  a  pretty  young 
lady,  stamping  her  foot.  "  It  looks  like  cowardice, 
and  then  you  fool  no  one.  Not  a  person  in  St.  Louis 
but  knows  what  this  camp  is  for." 

"That  flag  is  to  protect  us  from  Lyon,"  replied 
the  officer.  "If  we  flew  the  Confederate  flag,  he 
would  be  down  on  us  in  no  time.  It  is  to  maintain 
a  semblance  of  a  lawful  gathering  that  we  fly  it. 
I  hate  to  see  it  as  badly  as  you  do,  and  welcome  the 
day  we  can  lower  the  hateful  rag,  and  trample  it 
beneath  our  feet." 

"  How  I  should  like  to  trample  it  now,"  exclaimed 
the  lady,  with  flashing  eyes.  "  May  I,  when  you 
lower  it?" 

"  Yes,  if  you  are  here,"  replied  the  officer,  laugh- 
ing. "  Our  cause  cannot  fail,  when  we  have  such 
supporters  as  you." 

For  four  days,  Camp  Jackson  was  a  Mecca  for 
every  fair  rebel  in  St.  Louis.  They  thronged  its 


232  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

streets  and  avenues.  Especially  were  they  desirous 
of  treading  on  Davis,  Lee,  and  Beauregard  Avenues. 

In  the  camp,  gay  in  their  trappings,  were  Edward 
Middleton,  Randolph  Hamilton,  and  Benton  Shel- 
ley. Their  tents  were  always  surrounded  by  a  bevy 
of  the  fairest  of  the  fair,  for  all  these  were  very 
popular  young  men,  their  families  the  richest  and 
oldest  in  St.  Louis. 

"What  would  you  do  if  Lyon  should  attack 
you  ?  "  asked  one  of  the  ladies  of  Benton  Shelley. 

"Do?"  he  exclaimed,  swelling  out  his  breast. 
"  Why,  we  can  wipe  out  of  existence  without  half 
trying  all  the  Dutch  that  Blair  and  Lyon  can  bring 
against  us." 

"  But  they  say  Lyon  has  five  or  six  thousand  men 
well  armed,  and  you  are  not  a  thousand." 

"The  more  the  merrier,"  laughed  Benton.  "I 
feel  myself  equal  to  ten  of  the  Dutch.  My  only 
fear  is,  Lyon  will  not  attack  us." 

"Oh!  how  I  should  like  to  see  a  battle!"  ex- 
claimed a  romantic  young  miss,  clasping  her  hands. 
"  It  must  be  just  grand." 

"  My  dear  young  lady,"  said  a  gray-haired  gen- 
tleman standing  by,  "  if  you  should  see  one  battle, 
you  would  never  want  to  see  another.  I  know,  for 
I  served  through  the  Mexican  War.  I  fear  and 
tremble  when  I  think  of  what  is  coming.  These 
young  gentlemen  here  will  prove  heroes,  but  think 
of  the  cost,  the  young  and  gallant  lives  blotted  out. 


CAMP  JACKSON  233 

But  pardon  me  for  interrupting  your  pleasant  talk," 
and  gracefully  lifting  his  hat  he  walked  away. 

"He  is  an  old  croaker/'  said  Benton  scornfully. 

"He  is  nothing  of  the  kind,"  replied  Randolph 
Hamilton.  "I  know  him  well.  He  was  a  most 
gallant  officer  during  the  Mexican  War.  If  this  war 
continues,  I  look  to  see  him  a  general.  But  he  speaks 
the  truth  as  to  the  horror  of  a  battlefield.  But  for 
one,  I  have  counted  the  cost.  If  our  beloved  South- 
land demands  that  I  give  my  life  that  she  may  be 
free,  I  am  ready." 

"  Bosh ! "  replied  Benton,  "  I  don't  think  of  dying; 
it  is  the  glory  of  war  I  am  after.  Let  Frank  Blair 
bring  on  his  Dutch  minions  as  soon  as  he  pleases." 

And  thus  the  talk  went  on,  while  over  them 
waved  the  despised  flag  of  their  country. 

General  Lyon  kept  a  careful  watch  of  every  move- 
ment of  Frost.  Not  only  that,  but  Lawrence  kept 
him  well  informed  as  to  Frost's  most  secret  plans, 
thanks  to  Guilford  Craig.  On  May  8,  Law- 
rence received  a  communication  from  Craig  saying 
that  the  long-looked-for  cannon  from  the  South  had 
arrived  the  night  before,  on  the  steamer  /.  C.  Swain. 
The  cannon  were  shipped  in  huge  boxes  labelled 
"  Marble,"  and  the  ammunition  in  barrels,  and  all 
were  consigned  to  Greely  &  Gale,  a  well-known 
Union  firm  of  St.  Louis.  But  the  steamer  was 
stopped  before  it  reached  the  levee,  and  these  goods 
were  taken  off. 


234  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

Lyon  now  determined  to  strike;  but  to  be  sure 
there  was  no  mistake,  he  visited  Camp  Jackson  that 
he  might  see  for  himself.  Disguised  as  a  woman, 
he  rode  through  the  camp  and  found  everything 
just  as  Guilford  Craig  had  described  it  in  his  com- 
munication. He  came  back,  and  notified  Blair  that 
he  would  capture  the  camp  the  next  day. 

He  had  a  good  reason  for  his  haste,  having  re- 
ceived news  from  Washington  that  General  Harney 
had  succeeded  in  getting  himself  reinstated,  and 
was  now  on  his  way  back  to  assume  command. 
With  Harney  back,  Lyon  well  knew  he  would  not 
be  permitted  to  capture  the  camp. 

Frost  as  well  as  Lyon  had  his  spies,  and  they  re- 
ported what  Lyon  was  about  to  do.  Whereupon 
Frost  wrote  a  most  remarkable  letter  to  Lyon,  a 
letter,  considering  the  circumstances,  that  an  honor- 
able man  might  well  hesitate  to  write,  even  in  war 
times.  In  this  letter  he  protested  against  the  seizure 
of  his  camp,  declaring  himself  to  be  a  good  and  law- 
abiding  citizen  of  the  United  States.  "  So  far," 
said  he,  "as  regards  any  hostility  being  intended 
toward  the  United  States  or  its  property  or  repre- 
sentatives by  any  portion  of  my  command,  and  as 
far  as  I  can  learn  (and  I  think  I  am  fully  informed), 
of  any  other  part  of  the  State  forces,  I  can  positively 
say  that  the  idea  has  never  been  entertained." 

And  this  when  he  had  just  received  cannon  from 
Jeff  Davis  to  batter  down  the  walls  of  the  arsenal. 


CAMP  JACKSON  235 

It  was  a  case  of  as  direct  lying  as  any  gentleman 
indulged  in  during  the  war.  But  both  General 
Frost  and  Governor  Jackson  were  insane  with  the 
idea  of  forcing  Missouri  out  of  the  Union,  and  there 
was  no  depth  of  deception  to  which  they  would  not 
go  to  achieve  this  end.  It  was  just  such  deception 
as  this  that  Blair  and  Lyon  had  to  overcome  from 
the  beginning. 

Lyon  refused  to  receive  this  letter,  and  went  on 
with  his  preparations  to  capture  the  camp.  The 
news  spread  'through  the  city  like  wildfire  that 
Lyon  was  to  storm  Camp  Jackson,  and  crowds  be- 
gan to  throng  the  line  of  march,  or  hasten  to  the 
camp.  Of  course  there  would  be  a  fight.  Frost 
would  not  surrender  without  a  fight,  and  few  stopped 
to  consider  what  a  dangerous  place  a  battlefield  is. 

"  What,  suh ! "  exclaimed  a  gray-haired  Southern 
gentleman,  'pulling  his  mustache,  "Blair's  Dutch 
minions  fight  our  boys  ?  The  boys  will  eat  them  up, 
eat  them  up,  suh/' 

As  Lyon  marshalled  his  forces,  the  crowd  at  first 
looked  on  in  wonder,  and  then  anger  broke  forth. 
How  dare  those  Dutch  minions  attack  the  chivalry 
of  the  city?  No  cheers  for  those  soldiers  as  they 
marched,  no  waving  of  handkerchiefs  by  fair  ladies, 
no  flowers  strewn  in  their  line  of  march;  but  instead, 
fierce  looks  of  anger,  groans  and  hisses,  and  vile 
epithets  greeted  them  from  every  side. 

There  goes  Blair's  First  Regiment,     Few  Ger- 


£36  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

mans  there,  mostly  Americans  and  Irishmen.  How 
bravely  they  march!  Later  the  regiment  was  to 
cover  itself  with  glory  at  Wilson  Creek,  leaving 
nearly  half  of  its  number  killed  and  wounded  on 
Bloody  Hill. 

Here  come  the  German  regiments.  No  holiday 
soldiers  they.  Many  of  them  had  been  in  the  revolu- 
tion of  1848,  and  had  fled  to  this  country.  Now  they 
were  to  fight  for  that  liberty  they  found  here,  and 
which  they  so  dearly  prized.  Straight  ahead  they 
march,  looking  neither  to  the  right  nor  the  left, 
and  the  jeers  and  taunts  and  foul  names  hurled  at 
them  fall  on  deaf  ears. 

Here  comes  Totten's  regular  battery,  horses 
prancing,  every  grim  gunner  sitting  by  his  piece. 
May  God  pity  the  youths  in  Camp  Jackson  if  that 
battery  should  ever  open  on  them ! 

And  thus  they  marched,  between  living  walls  of 
cursing,  surging,  excited  men,  women,  and  chil- 
dren, who  every  instant  threatened  to  burst  forth  in 
open  riot.  If  there  was  Union  sentiment  in  St. 
Louis,  it  was  dead  that  day.  Cheers  for  Jeff  Davis, 
and  for  the  Southern  Confederacy,  were  heard  on 
every  side. 

Being  on  Lyon's  staff,  Lawrence  frequently  had 
to  ride  from  one  end  of  the  column  to  the  other, 
carrying  orders.  This  brought  him  into  notice,  and 
made  him  the  subject  of  violent  abuse.  Many  in  the 


CAMP  JACKSON  237 

crowd  knew  him.  "  There  goes  the  renegade," 
they  shouted;  "down  with  the  basta'rd  Yankee." 

Once  Lawrence  rode  past  his  uncle's.  Both  he 
and  his  aunt  stood  on  the  steps  watching  the  march- 
ing soldiers.  If  they  saw  Lawrence,  they  made  no 
sign,  but  he  saw  that  their  faces  were  pale.  "  They 
are  thinking  of  Edward,"  he  thought. 

But  his  uncle  had  seen  him.  A  gentleman  who 
stood  by  his  side  asked,  "Who  is  that  young  lieu- 
tenant who  rides  so  well?  He  looks  every  inch  a 
soldier." 

"That,"  answered  Mr.  Middleton,  "is  my 
nephew.  A  son  with  Frost,  a  nephew  with  Lyon. 
I  begin  to  realize  the  horrors  of  this  strife." 

"You  are  not  the  only  family  divided  in  St. 
Louis!"  replied  the  gentleman.  "You  are  fortu- 
nate in  having  only  a  nephew  on  the  wrong  side. 
But  I  do  not  like  the  way  those  Dutch  fellows  march. 
They  march  like  trained  soldiers,  not  a  mere  mob, 
as  we  thought  they  were.  Our  boys  may  have  some 
trouble  in  beating  them." 

"  Frost  will  not  beat  them,"  replied  Mr.  Middle- 
ton,  gloomily ;  "  his  command  is  doomed.  I  only 
hope  he  will  surrender  without  a  fight." 

"What!  surrender  without  firing  a  gun?  That 
would  be  a  disgrace.  The  women  of  the  city  would 
rise  in  wrath,  and  denounce  Frost  and  his  entire 
command  as  arrant  cowards." 


238  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

"It  is  surrender  or  annihilation,"  replied  Mr. 
Middleton.  "  Look  at  the  thousands  who  are  march- 
ing against  Frost's  few  hundred.  Look  at  Totten's 
battery.  In  five  minutes  it  could  sweep  the  camp 
out  of  existence." 

"  It  would  be  glorious  if  the  boys  should  fight,  if 
need  be,  until  the  last  man  fell.  It  would  be  a 
Thermopylae  —  an  Alamo  —  that  would  fire  the 
hearts  of  the  South,  aye,  of  the  entire  nation,"  an- 
swered the  gentleman  enthusiastically. 

"  You  would  not  talk  like  that,  if  you  had  a  son 
in  the  camp,"  said  Mr.  Middleton  tartly.  "  I  want 
my  son  to  do  his  duty,  as  I  know  he  will,  but  that 
he  should  stand  and  be  shot  down,  simply  for  the 
purpose  of  firing  the  Southern  heart,  I  am  not  will- 
ing." 

"  Ah !  excuse  me,"  replied  the  gentleman,  "  I  can 
realize  the  feelings  of  a  father." 

Frost  stood  helpless,  as  he  saw  Lyon  encircle  his 
camp  with  lines  of  steel.  He  saw  Totten's  battery 
planted  where  it  would  sweep  his  camp  from  end 
to  end.  To  resist  would  be  suicidal  madness.  Yet 
there  were  hundreds  in  that  camp  who  would  have 
resisted  to  the  death,  if  Frost  had  given  the  com- 
mand. Many  afterwards  gave  their  lives  for  their 
beloved  South. 

Around  the  camp,  the  crowd  grew  to  an  im- 
mense size.  They  came  to  see  the  Dutch  annihilated. 
Not  for  a  moment  did  they  think  but  that  Frost 


CAMP  JACKSON  239 

would  fight ;  and  when  the  surrender  came,  a  howl 
of  rage  arose,  that  sounded  like  the  cry  of  wild 
beasts. 

The  prisoners  stacked  their  arms,  and  as  they 
did  so,  Lawrence  saw  the  tears  streaming  down 
more  than  one  manly  cheek.  Oh!  it  was  so  gall- 
ing, so  bitter  to  their  pride,  that  after  all  their  boast- 
ing they  had  to  surrender  to  the  despised  Dutch. 
There  were  some  who  would  have  preferred  to  fight 
until  they  died.  Others  looked  relieved  and  seemed 
glad  that  it  was  all  over.  As  Lawrence  rode  along 
the  line  he  saw  many  that  he  knew,  many  who  had 
been  his  friends.  On  the  face  of  Randolph  Hamil- 
ton there  was  a  look  of  sadness,  but  also  of  grim 
determination.  "You  gave  us  no  chance  this 
time,"  he  said  to  Lawrence,  "  but  wait  until  we  can 
meet  you  in  a  fair  field ! "  His  cousin  Edward  saw 
him,  and  turned  his  back  without  speaking;  but 
Lawrence  saw  there  were  tears  in  his  eyes.  Benton 
Shelley  saw  him,  and  with  a  curse  he  broke  his  sword 
across  his  knee,  and  dashing  down  the  pieces,  ex- 
claimed :  "  There,  take  it  that  way !  The  next  time 
we  meet,  I  trust  it  will  be  on  a  battle  field,  where 
some  coward  will  not  surrender  us.  I  have  not  for- 
gotten that  blow;  you  and  I  will  meet  yet." 

They  met  on  the  battlefield  of  Wilson  Creek. 

After  yielding  up  their  arms,  the  prisoners  were 
marched  in  between  two  lines  of  soldiers,  prepara- 
tory to  being  taken  to  the  city.  The  sight  inflamed 


240  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

the  mob  to  desperation.  Howls  of  rage  and  revil- 
ing filled  the  air.  Women  were  there  in  that  ex- 
cited throng,  and  they  seemed  turned  into  maniacs. 
Lawrence  saw  one  rush  up  to  a  guard,  and  spit  in 
his  face.  The  guard  pushed  her  back  with  the  butt 
of  his  musket,  and  with  his  handkerchief  coolly 
wiped  his  face. 

More  threatening  grew  the  mob.  They  surged 
around  the  soldiers  like  the  billows  of  a  storm-swept 
sea.  Their  cries  of  rage  were  like  the  howling  of 
wolves,  as  they  close  in  on  their  prey.  Suddenly 
volleys  of  stones  and  any  missile  which  the  mob  could 
lay  hold  of  began  to  fly.  Many  of  the  soldiers  were 
painfully  hurt,  but  the  stern  command  came  from 
the  officers,  "  Don't  fire." 

Thicker  and  faster  fell  the  stones,  then  a  pistol 
shot  rang  out,  and  another.  The  soldiers  threw  up 
their  guns. 

"  For  God's  sake,  don't  fire,"  shouted  Lawrence ; 
"  innocent  persons  will  be  killed." 

For  answer,  a  burly  ruffian  whipped  out  a  re- 
volver and  fired  three  shots  at  him  in  rapid  succes- 
sion. For  the  fourth  shot  the  fellow  drew  up  his  left 
arm,  and  was  taking  deliberate  aim,  when  a  soldier 
sprang  forward,  and  thrust  him  through  with  his 
bayonet. 

Now  there  came  a  succession  of  shots.  A  soldier 
out  of  Company  F,  Third  Missouri,  fell  dead,  three 
or  four  out  of  the  company  fell  wounded.  Captain 


i 


The  mob  broke  in  the  wildest  confusion 


CAMP  JACKSON  241 

Blandorvski,  who  commanded  the  company,  fell 
shouting,  "  Fire!" 

The  rifles  blazed.  Other  companies  took  up  the 
command.  For  a  moment  the  mob  stood  and  fired 
back,  and  then  broke  in  the  wildest  confusion. 
Shrinking  with  fear  and  rage,  they  fled,  trampling 
down  everything  before  them.  Many  of  the  specta- 
tors saved  themselves  by  throwing  themselves  on 
the  ground  when  the  firing  commenced.  When  the 
smoke  lifted  from  the  field,  twenty  bodies  lay  still 
in  death,  and  —  the  pity  of  it  —  two  women  and  one 
little  child  in  its  mother's  arms.  The  capture  of 
Camp  Jackson  was  not  bloodless. 

After  the  excitement  of  the  conflict  had  somewhat 
subsided,  the  prisoners  were  marched  down  to  the 
arsenal.  Again  the  way  was  thronged  with  a  curs- 
ing, howling  mob.  Now  and  then  a  stone  was 
thrown,  but  fear  kept  the  mob  from  using  firearms. 

A  stone  struck  Lawrence  on  the  head.  For  a 
moment  he  was  dazed,  but  his  hat  had  saved  him 
from  severe  injury.  A  soldier  threw  up  his  gun  to 
shoot  the  ruffian  who  threw  it. 

"  Don't  shoot ! "  shouted  Lawrence,  "  there  has 
been  enough  bloodshed/' 

The  soldier,  with  a  protest,  lowered  his  gun,  and 
the  man  slunk  back  in  the  crowd,  and  disappeared. 
The  prisoners  were,  at  length,  safely  housed  in  the 
arsenal,  but  the  excitement  throughout  the  city  grew 
in  intensity. 


CHAPTER  XVIII 

THE   PANIC 

ST.  LOUIS  never  saw  a  wilder  night  than  the 
one  following  the  capture  of  Camp  Jackson. 
The  Confederates  were  insane  with  rage. 
They  cursed  Frost  for  not  fighting;  he  should  have 
fought  until  every  man  fell.  He  should  have  shown 
a  bold  front,  and  the  Dutch  would  have  run. 

The  wildest  rumors  began  to  fill  the  city.  Hun- 
dreds had  been  killed.  The  Dutch  had  fired  wan- 
tonly and  without  provocation  on  innocent  citizens. 
They  had  poured  volley  after  volley  into  the  fleeing 
crowd,  killing  men,  women,  and  children  alike. 

Mobs  began  to  fill  the  streets  vowing  vengeance. 
Cries  of  "  Death  to  the  Dutch ! "  "  Death  to  Lyon ! " 
"Death  to  Frank  Blair!"  "Death  to  every  Union 
Leader ! "  arose  on  all  sides.  Mobs  hungry  for 
blood  started  for  the  residences  of  the  Union  lead- 
ers to  kill,  burn,  maim.  They  were  met  by  police- 
men, and  details  of  soldiers,  and  driven  back.  The 
house  of  every  prominent  Union  man  had  to  be 
heavily  guarded.  A  huge  mob  attacked  the  office  of 
the  Democrat,  the  Unions  paper  of  the  city,  and  it 
was  saved  only  by  the  energetic  action  of  the  police. 
The  chief  of  police  was  an  active  secessionist,  and 
most  of  the  policemen  were  sympathizers  with  the 


THE  PANIC  243 

South,  but  they  did  valiant  work  that  night  to  save 
the  city  from  mob  rule. 

All  night  long  the  mob  raged  through  the  streets. 
To  Lawrence  it  was  a  night  full  of  danger,  and  one 
he  always  remembered.  He  had  to  take  orders  'here 
and  there;  to  guide  details  of  troops  to  points  of 
danger.  Much  of  the  time  he  was  alone.  During 
the  night  he  was  shot  at  three  different  times.  More 
than  once  he  'had  to  clear  the  way  with  his  trusty 
sword,  the  sword  given  him  by  his  uncle.  Half  a 
dozen  times  he  rode  men  down  who  tried  to  stop 
him. 

There  was  no  sleep  in  St.  Louis  that  night.  Those 
who  took  no  part  in  the  mob  sat  in  their  homes,  be- 
hind bolted  and  barred  doors  and  windows,  fearing 
the  worst.  Woe  to  the  German  who  was  caught 
alone  by  that  mob !  In  the  morning  nearly  twenty 
bodies  were  found  in  different  parts  of  the  city, 
beaten  out  of  all  semblance  of  humanity. 

Morning  came,  but  the  rioting  did  not  stop.  Mobs 
still  thronged  the  streets,  crying  for  vengeance  on 
the  Dutch.  In  the  afternoon,  a  regiment  was  fired 
into,  and  two  soldiers  were  killed.  The  fire  was 
returned,  and  the  mob  fled,  leaving  some  twenty  of 
their  number  dead  and  wounded  on  the  field. 

Outrages  on  the  Germans  continued,  and  they 
became  greatly  excited.  Threats  of  retaliation  be- 
gan to  be  made.  These  threats  became  louder  and 
more  frequent.  Lyon  took  measures  to  see  that  the 


244  WITH  LYON  IN   MISSOURI 

troops  were  kept  in  strict  subordination.  Officers 
were  to  see  that  not  a  shot  was  fired,  except  in  self- 
defence.  The  rumor  that  the  Germans  were  to  take 
a  terrible  revenge  grew.  Never  did  a  city  change 
quicker.  The  bloodthirsty  mob  became  a  pack  of 
shivering  cowards.  "  The  Dutch  are  going  to  sack 
the  city,"  was  the  cry.  "  They  are  going  to  murder 
men,  women,  and  children;  they  will  spare  none." 

A  terrible  panic  took  possession  of  the  city.  Thou- 
sands upon  thousands  fled  from  their  homes,  in  the 
wildest  fear.  The  levee  became  packed  with  people, 
crowding,  fighting  to  get  on  board  of  the  steam- 
boats. Hundreds  crossed  by  ferry  over  into  Illinois. 
The  rich  battled  with  the  poor  for  a  place  on  the 
boats.  One  insane  thought  possessed  all  —  to  get 
away  before  the  Dutch  commenced  their  terrible 
work.  Some  would  snatch  a  few  valuables  and 
flee,  leaving  all  else  behind.  Others  would  pack 
trunks,  and  offer  fabulous  sums  to  have  them  con- 
veyed to  the  levee.  It  was  as  if  a  great  fire  were 
sweeping  over  the  city,  and  the  inhabitants  had  to 
flee  or  perish. 

Lawrence  saw  this  wild  stampede,  this  senseless 
panic,  with  amazement.  Was  this  the  same  city 
through  which  mobs  surged  but  yesterday,  thirsting 
for  blood  ?  He  knew  that,  even  if  some  of  the  more 
violent  Germans  wished  to  retaliate,  the  officers 
would  prevent  any  excesses.  The  soldiers  were  un- 
der control ;  they  would  do  as  they  were  commanded. 


THE  PANIC  245 

With  the  same  iron  will  with  which  he  moved  on 
Camp  Jackson,  Lyon  would  put  down  any  insurrec- 
tion. 

What  were  those  doing  whom  Lawrence  loved, 
who  had  been  his  friends  in  days  past?  Had  the 
senseless  panic  seized  them  also?  He  would  see. 
The  streets  were  filled  with  vehicles  of  every  des- 
cription, all  headed  for  the  levee.  Frantic  men  were 
rushing  around  offering  large  sums  for  any  sort 
of  conveyance  which  would  take  their  families  to 
the  levee.  Even  on  horseback,  Lawrence  found  it 
no  easy  task  to  thread  his  way  through  the  maze. 
In  places  wagons  and  carriages  were  locked  together, 
drivers  cursing  and  swearing.  On  the  steps  of  a 
palatial  mansion,  he  noticed  the  owner  standing,  ges- 
ticulating wildly,  and  shouting  at  the  top  of  his 
voice :  "  Fifty  dollars  for  a  conveyance  to  take  my 
family  to  the  levee.  Fifty  dollars." 

Lawrence  knew  the  gentleman  slightly.  He  reined 
in  his  horse,  and  said:  "Mr.  Reaves,  there  is  no 
occasion  to  get  excited.  Remain  at  home;  no  one 
will  harm  you  or  your  family." 

Mr.  Reaves  turned  on  him  in  fury.  "  I  know  you," 
he  exclaimed.  "  You  have  gone  with  that  monster 
Lyon.  You  want  us  to  remain  here  to  be  massacred." 

"You  are  not  in  a  particle  of  danger,"  replied 
Lawrence. 

"  Danger ! "  shouted  Mr.  Reaves.  "  Do  you  not 
know  the  Dutch  are  already  at  their  hellish  work, 


246  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

plundering,  burning,  murdering,  ravishing?"  and 
raising  his  voice  he  shouted :  "  A  hundred  dollars 
for  a  conveyance." 

An  expressman  heard  the  offer;  he  was  going 
to  a  place  for  fifty.  He  would  let  that  go,  and  take 
the  hundred.  A  bargain  was  struck,  and  Lawrence 
rode  away  disgusted,  leaving  Mr.  Reaves  piling  his 
family  and  a  few  valuables  into  the  wagon. 

Lawrence  paid  no  more  attention  to  what  was 
going  on  around  him,  but  rode  straight  for  his 
uncle's.  He  arrived  none  too  soon.  He  found  the 
family  all  ready  to  take  flight.  The  carriage  stood 
at  the  door,  and  the  servants  were  hastily  placing  in 
it  various  articles.  The  coachman  sat  in  his  seat, 
but  Lawrence  saw  he  was  shaking  with  fear.  His 
uncle,  usually  so  cool  and  collected,  was  visibly  ex- 
cited, and  was  giving  his  orders  in  a  sharp  falsetto 
voice.  Edward,  who  had  just  been  paroled,  stood 
by  his  father's  side,  but  when  he  saw  Lawrence  a 
scowl  came  over  his  face,  and  without  speaking, 
he  turned  and  went  into  the  house. 

"Uncle  Alfred!  Uncle  Alfred!"  shouted  Law- 
rence, as  he  rode  up,  "What  are  you  doing?  There 
is  no  danger.  Don't  subject  Aunt  Clara  to  this 
maddening  crush." 

"No  danger?"  asked  his  uncle,  stiffening.  "How 
do  you  know?  All  reports  say  differently.  The 
Dutch  have  been  given  their  own  way.  The  city  is 


THE  PANIC  247 

in  their  power,  to  do  as  they  please ;  and  we  know 
what  that  means." 

"It  is  false,  entirely  false,"  cried  Lawrence.  "Do 
I  not  know  ?  Am  I  not  on  Lyon's  staff.  Do  I  not 
know  that  rather  than  see  this  city  sacked,  Lyon 
would  turn  his  regulars  against  Blair's  regiments? 
How  long  do  you  think  they  would  stand  before 
Totten's  battery  ?  But  there  will  be  no  need.  While 
the  Germans  are  greatly  excited,  the  great  majority 
are  law-abiding.  The  German  regiments  are  under 
perfect  discipline.  They  will  obey  their  officers. 
Do  you  think  that  Blair,  Broadhead,  Glover,  Howe, 
Filly,  and  scores  of  other  stanch  Union  men  of  the 
city,  would  permit  the  thing  that  you  fear  ?  " 

"  But  they  say  the  German  regiments  are  beyond 
control,  that  they  have  become  raging  mobs,  lost 
to  all  discipline,"  persisted  his  uncle. 

"I  tell  you  it 's  false,  a  dangerous,  malicious  false- 
hood!" exclaimed  Lawrence.  "If  you  stay  I  will 
stake  my  own  life  on  your  safety." 

Now  for  the  first  time,  his  aunt  spoke.  "  Alfred," 
she  said,  "  I  believe  Lawrence  is  right.  You  know 
I  never  was  much  in  favor  of  going.  This  running 
away  savors  too  much  of  cowardice.  It  is  not  what 
true  Southerners  should  do.  I  believe  Edward  is 
of  my  opinion,  but  he  will  say  nothing,  being  so 
cast  down  over  the  surrender  of  Camp  Jackson.  If 
he  had  been  in  Frost's  place,  there  would  have  been 


248  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

no  surrender.  The  Guards  would  have  died  right 
there  for  the  South.  No,  Alfred,  I  will  not  go. 
Order  the  carriage  back." 

Lawrence  dismounted,  and  grasping  his  aunt's 
hand,  said,  "  Aunt  Clara,  I  am  proud  of  you.  I  am 
glad  Southern  women  don't  go  into  the  army;  if 
they  did  there  would  be  no  hopes  for  the  Union." 

"  Thank  you  Lawrence,"  replied  his  aunt.  "  I 
am  sorry  you  cannot  see  the  right,  but  you  will  find 
that  it  will  be  as  hard  to  conquer  the  Southern  men 
as  the  Southern  women.  Alfred!"  she  continued, 
turning  to  her  husband,  "did  you  not  hear  me?  I 
will  not  go." 

"Very  well,  Clara,"  said  Mr.  Middleton,  "it  was 
for  your  sake  I  was  going.  I  hope  Lawrence  is  right. 
I  see  now  that  it  would  not  do  for  Lyon  to  allow 
the  city  to  be  sacked.  James,"  to  the  coachman,  "put 
up  the  horses,  lock  the  barn,  and  stay  close  in-doors." 

"  Uncle,  I  will  place  a  guard  at  the  house,  if  you 
wish,"  said  Lawrence. 

"No,  no,"  cried  his  aunt,  "I  could  not  bear  to 
have  any  of  those  horrid  Home  Guards  around.  I 
will  trust  to  what  you  say." 

"You  need  have  no  fears,  there  will  be  no  pil- 
lage," said  Lawrence,  as  he  mounted  and  rode  away, 
for  he  had  other  friends  he  wished  to  persuade  not 
to  join  in  the  senseless  stampede.  He  first  made  for 
the  Hamilton  residence.  Here  he  found  the  scare 
even  worse  than  it  was  at  his  uncle's.  Randolph  had 


THE  PANIC  249 

received  his  parole,  and  had  just  returned  as  Law- 
rence rode  up.  He  viewed  with  surprise  the  panic 
which  had  seized  the  city.  "I  do  not  believe,"  he 
said  to  his  father,  "  there  is  any  real  danger.  There 
may  be  isolated  cases  of  outrage,  but  nothing  more. 
Lyon  seems  to  have  his  soldiers  well  in  hand." 

"  Your  mother  and  Dorothy  are  wild  with  f ear," 
replied  his  father,  "we  must  go  on  their  account. 
Ah!  here  conies  that  young  Middleton,  in  the  full 
uniform  of  a  Yankee  officer.  I  wonder  what  he 
is  here  for." 

"I  should  not  wonder  if  it  were  to  say  that  this 
panic  is  foolish,"  replied  Randolph. 

"I  see  you  have  not  yet  gone,"  said  Lawrence",  as 
he  dismounted,  "  I  have  come  to  try  to  dissuade  you 
from  going." 

Just  then  Dorothy  came  rushing  out  of  the  house, 
with  a  birdcage  in  her  hand.  Seeing  Lawrence, 
she  dropped  the  bird,  and  rushed  up  to  him,  crying, 
"Oh!  you  will  save  me,  won't  you?  You  used  to 
be  my  friend." 

"  Save  you  from  what  ?  "  asked  Lawrence. 

"From  the  Dutch.  Oh!  they  are  murdering 
everybody ;  they  are  going  to  burn  the  city.  They  — 
they  will  do  worse !  " 

"Yes,  I  will  save  you,  Dorothy,"  replied  Law- 
rence gravely.  "Not  a  hair  of  your  pretty  head 
shall  be  touched.  Get  over  your  foolish  fears  as 
soon  as  possible." 


250  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

Then  turning  to  Mr.  Hamilton,  Lawrence  said, 
"This  is  a  foolish,  a  senseless  panic.  Stay  quietly 
in  your  house,  and  there  will  not  be  one  particle  of 
danger/' 

"  But  those  awful  stories  that  we  hear !  It  is  re- 
ported hundreds  of  citizens  have  been  shot  down," 
said  Mr.  Hamilton. 

"All  lies,"  replied  Lawrence.  "About  thirty 
have  been  killed,  all  in  the  mobs  that  fired  on  the 
soldiers." 

"  But  I  hear  the  Home  Guards  fired  volley  after 
volley  into  the  mob  from  mere  wantonness,"  per- 
sisted Mr.  Hamilton. 

"  All  lies,"  replied  Lawrence.  "  Randolph  knows 
all  about  the  firing  at  Camp  Jackson.  How  was  it, 
Randolph?" 

"It  did  not  continue  long,"  replied  Randolph, 
"  and  to  tell  the  truth,  father,  the  Home  Guards  can 
not  be  blamed  for  firing.  They  were  being  shot  down 
by  the  mob.  A  captain  fell  near  me,  and  it  was  he 
who  gave  the  command  to  fire.  I  have  since  heard 
that  the  captain  died  from  his  wound.  If  Yankees 
had  fired  into  us,  as  that  mob  into  the  Home  Guards, 
we  would  have  shot  and  shot  to  kill." 

"Thank  you,  Randolph,"  said  Lawrence.  "I 
could  not  have  defended  them  better.  You  are  not 
only  a  brave,  but  a  generous  foe." 

"We  will  not  go;  we  shall  risk  it  and  stay,"  said 
Mr.  Hamilton. 


THE  PANIC  251 

"You  will  not  regret  it,  Mr.  Hamilton,"  ex- 
claimed Lawrence.  "  Tell  the  ladies  I  shall  consider 
them  under  my  especial  protection." 

Lawrence  visited  several  other  places.  Some  per- 
sons he  found  had  already  gone;  others  cursed  him 
for  a  Yankee,  and  continued  their  flight;  others 
heeded,  and  afterwards  thanked  Lawrence  for  his 
advice. 

One  of  the  last  places  he  thought  of  visiting  was 
that  of  Joseph  Craig,  the  father  of  Guilford,  and 
step-father  of  Benton  Shelley.  When  he  reached 
the  place,  he  found  the  family  already  getting  into 
the  carriage  to  take  flight.  Benton  had  been  re- 
leased on  parole,  and  was  supporting  his  mother  who 
seemed  to  be  on  the  verge  of  fainting.  "Are  n't  you 
coming?"  Lawrence  heard  Benton  call  to  his 
father. 

"  No ! "  answered  Mr.  Craig,  "  Guilford  and  I  will 
stay  here,  and  take  what  comes." 

"Stay,  and  be  butchered,  if  you  want  to," 
shouted  Benton,  and  he  commanded  the  coachman  to 
drive  with  all  speed  to  the  levee. 

"You  did  the  wise  thing,  Mr.  Craig,"  said  Law- 
rence. "And  Guilford,  how  are  you?  I  see  you 
have  n't  run  either." 

"All  big  fools  for  being  scared,"  replied  Guil- 
ford, and  coming  close  to  Lawrence,  he  whispered, 
"Is  n't  it  fun  to  see  them  run,  after  all  their  big 
talk?  Say,  Lawrence,  what  do  you  think  about  my 


252  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

joining  the  Yankees  ?  I  can't  do  you  any  more  good 
here,  now  that  Frost  is  out  of  business." 

"Better  think  it  over  seriously  before  you  do  that/' 
replied  Lawrence ;  "  but  I  will  see  you  again.  Think 
I  will  follow  Benton  now,  and  see  how  he  gets 
along/' 

Thus  saying  Lawrence  rode  to  the  levee.  The 
scene  was  indescribable.  The  levee  was  packed  with 
vehicles  of  all  kinds.  The  steamboats  were  black 
with  people,  and  hundreds  shouting,  pushing,  crowd- 
ing to  get  on.  Children  were  crying,  women  wring- 
ing their  hands,  men  swearing,  and  over  all  was 
the  fear  that  the  Home  Guards  would  get  them. 

Benton  Shelley,  to  get  as  near  the  river  as  pos- 
sible, had  crowded  his  carriage  in  between  some 
heavy  baggage  wagons,  and  before  he  could  avoid 
it,  the  carriage  was  caught  and  crushed  like  an  egg- 
shell. Lawrence  saw  the  accident,  and  springing 
from  his  horse,  ;he  spoke  to  a  negro  staggering  along 
with  a  heavy  trunk. 

"Here,  you/'  he  said,  "drop  that  trunk,  and  hold 
this  horse  until  I  come  back.  Quick  now;  it  's  by 
command  of  General  Lyon !  " 

The  negro  dropped  the  trunk  as  if  it  burned  him. 
"Yes,  massa,  yes,  I  hold  'em/'  he  gasped,  as  he  took 
the  bridle. 

Lawrence  leaped  to  the  rescue ;  those  around  had 
hardly  noticed  the  accident,  they  were  too  intent  on 
trying  to  get  away.  He  extricated  Mrs.  Craig  from 


THE  PANIC  253 

the  ruined  carriage.  She  did  not  seem  to  be  in- 
jured, but  was  screaming  in  hysterics.  One  of  Ben- 
ton's  hands  was  hurt,  and  he  seemed  to  be  dazed. 

Gathering  Mrs.  Craig  in  his  arms,  Lawrence  spoke 
to  Benton  and  said,  "  Follow  me."  Then  he  cried, 
"  Make  way  for  this  lady,  make  way,  I  command ! " 
Even  in  that  struggling  crowd  his  uniform  com- 
manded respect.  Making  his  way  through  the  nar- 
row passageway  they  made  for  him,  meekly  fol- 
lowed by  Benton,  Lawrence  carried  Mrs.  Craig  on 
board  the  steamer.  "Mrs.  Joseph  Craig/'  said 
Lawrence  to  an  officer  who  asked  who  she  was. 

"  Ah !  yes/'  replied  the  officer.  "  Carry  her  right 
into  the  cabin. 

"Her  son  will  care  for  her  now,"  replied  Law- 
rence. 

"  You  here,  Bent  ? "  exclaimed  the  officer,  who 
seemed  to  know  him  well.  "I  thought  old  Lyon 
had  you." 

"  He  paroled  us  all,"  growled  Benton,  as  he  took 
his  mother,  and  with  the  help  of  the  officer  carried 
her  into  the  cabin.  Neither  did  he  look  at  Lawrence 
nor  thank  him  for  what  he  had  done. 

When  Lawrence  got  back  to  his  horse,  he  found 
a  white  man  cursing  the  negro,  and  ordering  him  to 
let  the  horse  go,  and  pick  up  the  trunk  he  had 
dropped. 

For  once  the  negro  refused  to  obey  his  master. 
"Fo'  de  Lawd!  can't  do  it,  massa,"  he  exclaimed. 


254  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

"Gen'al  Lyon  heself  ordered  me  to  'hoi'  dis  horse. 
He  kill  me  if  I  let  him  go." 

"What 's  that  you  are  telling  me  ?"  roared  his  mas- 
ter. "I  will  make  your  back  smart  for  this." 

The  negro  was  beginning  to  tremble,  when  he 
caught  sight  of  Lawrence. 

"Dar  he  come  now/'  exclaimed  the  negro  joy- 
fully, "  dar  comes  Gen'al  Lyon." 

The  gentleman  stared  at  Lawrence,  who  said, 
"  I  am  sorry  I  detained  your  negro,  but  a  lady  was 
in  danger,  and  I  went  to  her  rescue.  I  am  not 
General  Lyon  as  your  negro  thinks,  but  I  am  one 
of  his  staff." 

"  I  reckon  I  know  you,"  said  the  man,  "  you  are 
the  nephew  of  Alfred  Middleton,  the  one  who  went 
over  to  the  Yankees." 

"  The  same,"  replied  Lawrence,  "  and  I  request 
you  not  to  punish  your  slave  here.  He  is  not  to 
blame  for  dropping  your  trunk,  I  made  him.  But 
if  I  were  you,  I  would  have  him  carry  it  back  home." 

"When  I  want  your  advice,  I  will  ask  for  it," 
snapped  the  man.  "Sambo,  pick  up  that  trunk,  and 
be  quick  about  it." 

Sambo  did  as  he  was  commanded,  and  as  he  did 
so,  Lawrence  slipped  a  dollar  in  his  hand.  After 
that  Lawrence  rode  back  to  his  quarters  with  a 
heavy  heart.  What  he  had  seen  made  him  sad. 

General  Harney  arrived  from  Washington  in  the 
midst  of  the  panic.  He  was  once  more  in  com- 


THE  PANIC  255 

mand.  When  the  people  heard  that  Harney  was  in 
command  once  more,  the  panic  subsided.  Surely 
Harney  would  not  let  them  all  be  murdered.  The 
leading  secessionists  came  to  him,  and  begged  him 
to  send  all  the  German  troops  out  of  the  city,  over 
into  Illinois.  This  the  general  promised  to  do.  But 
when  Frank  Blair  heard  the  order  he  flatly  told 
Harney  he  could  not  do  it;  that  the  German  regi- 
ments had  enlisted  to  serve  in  the  State  of  Missouri, 
not  out  of  it. 

General  Harney  to  justify  himself  in  not  keeping 
his  promise,  issued  a  proclamation,  in  which  he 
stated  the  German  troops  were  out  of  his  control. 
The  fearful  ones  took  this  as  meaning  that  he  could 
not  control  the  German  troops,  that  they  had  mu- 
tinied, and  that  their  officers  were  powerless. 

This  started  the  panic  afresh,  and  the  same  wild 
scenes  were  reenacted.  To  reassure  the  people  the 
German  regiments  were  removed  to  their  own  part 
of  the  city,  and  the  regulars  were  ordered  into  the 
business  portion.  A  few  weeks  before  this,  the 
arrival  of  forty  regular  soldiers  to  help  to  guard 
the  arsenal  'had  thrown  the  whole  city  into  hysterics, 
but  now  Lyon's  regulars,  under  Captain  Saxton,  were 
welcomed  with  open  arms. 

The  panic  gradually  subsided,  and  day  by  day 
the  refugees  came  creeping  back.  But  they  had  to 
come  back,  to  live  under,  and  be  protected  by,  the 
flag  they  had  trampled  under  their  feet. 


CHAPTER  XIX 
"THIS  MEANS  WAR" 

ACCORDING  to  Frost's  programme,  Gover- 
nor Jackson  was  to  call  a  special  meeting 
of  the  Legislature.  This  was  done,  and  the 
Legislature  met  on  the  second  of  May.  Most  of 
the  members  were  willing  tools  in  the  hands  of  the 
Governor,  ready  to  do  his  bidding.  On  the  after- 
noon of  the  tenth  of  May,  the  Legislature  was  de- 
bating a  bill  that  virtually  made  the  Governor  a 
dictator.  During  the  debate  he  hastily  entered  the 
hall,  and  announced  that  Camp  Jackson  had  been 
captured.  The  announcement  created  the  utmost 
excitement.  In  fifteen  minutes  the  bill  was  passed, 
and  signed,  and  the  Legislature  adjourned  for  the 
night. 

But  Jefferson  City  was  not  to  sleep  in  quiet.  At 
midnight,  the  citizens  were  aroused  by  the  violent 
ringing  of  every  bell  in  the  city.  Excited,  they 
rushed  into  the  streets  to  inquire  the  cause. 

"  Frank  Blair  is  coming  with  his  Dutch/'  was  the 
cry.  "  He  will  soon  be  here  to  burn  and  ravage/' 

Jefferson  City  was  soon  in  the  throes  of  a  panic 
as  great  as  the  one  that  had  seized  St.  Louis.  The 
Legislature  was  convened  in  the  dead  hours  of  the 
night,  and  bills  were  passed  giving  the  Governor 

256 


"THIS  MEANS  WAR"  257 

further  dictatorial  powers.  Detachments  of  State 
Guards  were  rushed  to  the  railroad  bridges  over  the 
Gasconade  and  the  Osage,  to  hold  them  against  the 
passage  of  trains  with  Blair's  troops.  The  detach- 
ment sent  to  hold  the  bridge  over  the  Osage,  in  their 
excitement  burned  it,  thus  preventing  the  passage 
of  all  trains.  At  that' time  Frank  Blair  was  in  St. 
Louis,  a  hundred  and  forty  miles  away,  with  no 
more  thought  of  going  to  Jefferson  City  than  he  had 
of  going  to  the  moon.  But  Jefferson  City  was  in  a 
panic  all  the  same.  There  was  hurrying  to  and  fro. 
Every  man  armed  himself  as  best  he  could  with 
shotgun,  rifle,  sabre,  or  ancient  sword. 

The  ammunition  which  the  Governor  had  been  col- 
lecting, with  which  to  fight  the  Yankees  when  the 
time  came,  was  buried.  All  the  State  funds  were 
secreted;  and  then  the  citizens  waited  in  fear  and 
trembling  for  the  coming  of  Frank  Blair  and  his 
"Dutch  cut-throats."  When  it  became  known  in 
Jefferson  City  that  Blair  had  not  left  St.  Louis, 
that  Harney  was  once  more  in  command,  the  excite- 
ment gradually  subsided,  and  the  Governor  once 
more  resumed  his  plotting  to  drag  the  State  out  of 
the  Union.  All  his  scheming  so  far  had  failed,  but 
he  was  not  discouraged ;  he  would  try  another  game. 
He  would  hold  the  State  to  a  strict  neutrality,  and 
fight  all  who  durst  invade  the  sacred  soil  of  Missouri, 
be  they  Federals,  Confederates,  or  Jayhawkers  from 
Kansas. 


258  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

The  Legislature  adjourned  on  the  fifteenth  of 
May.  It  had  done  all  it  could  do.  It  had  not  only 
made  Governor  Jackson  a  military  dictator,  but 
had  robbed  the  children  of  the  State,  by  turning  over 
two  million  dollars  of  school  money  to  the  Governor, 
to  be  used  as  a  military  fund.  The  Governor  was 
also  authorized  to  sell  one  million  dollars  in  State 
bonds  which  were  on  hand,  and  to  try  to  borrow  one 
million  dollars  more.  Thus  was  the  State  of  Mis- 
souri robbed  of  every  cent  of  its  public  funds,  by  men 
who  stood  at  nothing  that  they  might  plunge  the 
State  into  civil  war. 

With  the  means  at  his  command  the  Governor 
proceeded  to  organize  his  State  Guards  throughout 
the  entire  State.  Once  his  militia  was  thoroughly 
organized,  the  State  would  be  at  his  mercy ;  but  that 
would  take  time,  and  he  must  try  to  hoodwink  the 
Federal  Government  a  little  longer.  So,  through 
faint-hearted  Union  men  and  scheming  secessionists, 
General  Harney  was  induced  to  meet  General  Ster- 
ling Price,  who  had  been  appointed  to  the  supreme 
command  of  the  State  Guards. 

General  Price  and  General  Harney  now  entered 
into  a  most  extraordinary  compact,  known  in  his- 
tory as  the  Price-Harney  Agreement.  Under  this 
agreement,  General  Harney  was  to  move  no  Federal 
troops  in  the  State  from  where  they  were  already. 
He  was  to  allow  no  more  Federal  troops  to  enter 


"THIS  MEANS  WAR"  259 

the  State.    In  return,  General  Price  was  to  maintain 
the  peace  of  the  State. 

When  General  Harney  suggested  to  Price  that 
under  the  Agreement  he  should  cease  organizing  the 
State  Guards,  Price  proudly  answered  that  he  was 
organizing  the  Guards  under  the  State  law,  and 
that  he  could  not  think  of  violating  a  State  law. 
Everybody  knew  that  his  State  Guards  were  Con- 
federate troops  in  disguise ;  that  when  the  time  came 
they  would  be  used  to  force  the  State  out  of  the 
Union;  yet  Harney  agreed  to  this  nefarious  ar- 
rangement. It  is  almost  incredible  that  General 
Harney  should  consent  to  any  such  agreement.  It 
was  known  he  deeply  sympathized  with  the  South, 
but  he  had  never  wavered  in  his  loyalty  to  the  flag. 
No  doubt  'he  believed  that  in  making  such  an  agree- 
ment he  might  save  the  State  the  horrors  of  a  civil 
strife.  Hardly  was  the  ink  dry  on  this  agreement, 
when  a  Confederate  mob  took  possession  of  the 
United  States  arsenal  at  Liberty,  Clay  County,  Mis- 
souri. This  was  a  small  arsenal,  and  contained  only 
about  eight  hundred  muskets  and  four  cannon. 
History  does  not  record  that-  Governor  Jackson  or 
General  Price  protested  against  this  outrage.  In- 
stead, they  used  the  guns  to  arm  the  State  Guards. 
Under  the  agreement,  Harney  could  not  move  a 
soldier  or  raise  a  finger  to  protect  any  property  of 
the  United  States. 


260  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

Frank  Blair  and  General  Lyon  protested  at 
Washington  in  the  strongest  terms  against  this 
agreement.  "  By  it,"  they  said,  "  we  are  bound 
hand  and  foot.  Governor  Jackson  and  General 
Price  work  their  own  sweet  will."  Then  the  Gov- 
ernment became  alarmed.  For  once,  the  authorities 
at  Washington  acted  promptly.  General  Harney 
was  removed,  and  Lyon  left  in  supreme  command. 

For  the  first  time,  Lyon  and  Blair  were  free  to 
act.  They  went  to  work  to  formulate  the  plan  of  a 
campaign  which  would  drive  the  Confederates  from 
the  State. 

Lawrence  being  at  the  head  of  the  secret  service, 
became  an  important  personage.  It  was  his  duty  to 
collect  all  facts  on  which  Blair  and  Lyon  should  act. 
To  do  this  he  began  to  organize  a  body  of  scouts 
and  spies.  He  had  a  meeting  with  Guilford  Craig, 
who  again  reiterated  his  determination  to  enter  the 
Federal  service  as  a  scout  and  spy.  There  was  some- 
thing in  the  business,  dangerous  as  it  was,  which 
seemed  to  attract  the  boy.  Naturally  secretive,  he 
took  delight  in  deception.  That  he  had  deceived 
General  Frost  afforded  him  the  keenest  satisfaction. 
But  to  become  a  regular  scout  and  spy,  his  identity 
would  have  to  be  known  to  the  commanding  Gen- 
eral. To  this  he  consented. 

Lawrence,  to  prepare  General  Lyon  for  the  meet- 
ing, told  him  who  had  been  his  unknown  corre- 


"THIS  MEANS  WAR"  261 

spondent,  and  what  was  now  his  wish.  He  also 
gave  the  General  a  full  history  of  Guilford,  as  far 
as  he  knew.  The  General  listened  with  the  closest 
attention. 

"So  your  spy  was  an  orderly  at  Frost's  head- 
quarters ?"  said  Lyon.  "From  the  information  given 
I  knew  it  must  be  some  one  close  to  Frost.  Let  me 
see  him,  by  all  means." 

When  Guilford  was  introduced  to  the  General, 
Lyon  looked  over  the  slim,  rather  effeminate-appear- 
ing youth,  as  if  he  would  read  him  through  and 
through. 

"Rather  young/'  was  his  first  remark. 

"I  am  nearly  a  year  older  than  the  Lieutenant, 
here/'  said  Guilford,  pointing  at  Lawrence. 

"You  certainly  have  done  good  work  so  far/' 
replied  Lyon;  "but  do  you  realize  what  you  ask? 
To  be  a  spy  means  hardship,  cunning,  and  courage 
of  the  highest  order.  To  be  captured  means  an 
ignominious  death.  Under  the  peculiar  conditions 
existing  you  ran  no  risk  of  your  life  by  spying  on 
General  Frost,  but  what  you  ask  now  is  different. " 

"I  understand  fully  what  it  means  to  be  a  spy/' 
replied  Guilford.  "  I  am  not  only  ready,  but  eager 
to  become  one.  I  have  no  fears  of  death.  My  life, 
General,  has  not  been  a  happy  one.  Many  a  time 
I  have  been  on  the  point  of  killing  myself.  And  I 
am  not  so  frail  as  I  look.  Excitement  does  me  good. 


262  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

I  am  growing  stronger  every  day.  I  have  never 
really  lived  until  the  last  few  weeks  —  that  is,  outside 
of  my  books." 

"What  books  do  you  read,"  asked  the  General 
sharply. 

"Adventures  principally.  Also  novels  —  Cooper's, 
Scott's,  and  Revolutionary  tales." 

"Ah!  I  see/'  said  the  General.  "Unhappy  at 
home,  so  you  have  lived  an  imaginary  life  of  ad- 
venture." Turning  to  Lawrence,  he  said,  "Lieu- 
tenant, enroll  him  as  a  scout,  and  let  him  act  under 
your  directions." 

Thus  Guilford  Craig  became  a  regular  accredited 
scout  and  spy  to  General  Lyon.  Only  a  couple  of 
days  after  he  was  appointed,  he  reported  to  Law- 
rence that  he  wanted  to  go  to  Jefferson  City.  "  I 
want  to  find  out  what  they  are  doing  there,  "  he  re- 
marked, with  a  grim  smile. 

"  Do  you  think  the  folks  at  your  home  have  any 
idea  of  what  you  are  doing?"  asked  Lawrence. 

"  Not  in  the  least.  They  believe  I  am  a  ranting 
Reb,  like  Bent.  My  loving  step-mother  is  trying 
to  get  Bent  to  stay  at  home,  and  let  me  do  the  fight- 
ing for  the  family.  But  Bent  has  the  war  fever 
bad,  they  can't  keep  him  from  going;  and  I  reckon 
he  will  go  shortly.  They  say  the  paroles  we  gave 
at  Camp  Jackson  are  no  good.  A  great  many  of  the 
boys  have  already  left  to  join  Price.  I  think  I  shall 
have  to  go." 


"THIS  MEANS  WAR"  263 

"  What!  to  join  Price?  "  asked  Lawrence. 

"  Not  exactly,  but  to  be  around  where  he  is.  But 
I  hope  Bent  will  take  a  notion  to  go  before  I  do.  I 
believe  he  intends  to  do  you  injury,  if  he  gets  a 
chance.  He  has  never  forgiven  you  for  knocking 
him  down.  I  heard  him  say  only  yesterday,  that 
he  would  almost  rather  have  had  his  mother  hurt 
in  the  crush,  than  to  have  you  help  her.  Look  out 
for  him." 

"  I  will  try  to  look  out  for  myself/'  replied  Law- 
rence. "  He  assaulted  me  once,  and  got  the  worst 
of  it." 

"Yes,  but  remember  you  had  a  stout  German 
with  you.  What  if  you  had  been  alone?"  asked 
Guilford. 

"  I  will  be  careful ;  so  if  you  want  to  go  to  Jeffer- 
son City,  don't  stay  on  my  account." 

The  next  day  Guilford  was  gone,  and  Lawrence 
in  his  many  duties  forgot  his  warning,  but  it  was  to 
be  brought  to  his  mind  very  forcibly.  The  very  next 
evening,  as  he  was  carrying  an  order  to  Captain 
Saxton,  he  was  fired  upon  from  a  dark  alley,  the 
bullet  passing  through  his  hat.  Quick  as  thought 
he  returned  the  fire,  and  his  would-be  assassin  fled. 
The  firing  hurriedly  brought  a  guard,  but  whoever 
had  fired  the  shot  made  good  his  escape. 

Lawrence  had  but  little  doubt  as  to  whom  his 
assailant  was.  He  told  his  suspicions  to  General 
Lyon,  and  Lyon  ordered  him  to  have  young  Shelley 


264  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

watched  by  some  of  his  secret  men.  But  in  some  way 
Benton  found  that  he  was  under  suspicion,  and  fled 
from  the  city. 

The  stories  which  the  refugees  who  flocked  to  St. 
Louis  told  showed  that  the  life  of  no  Union  man  in 
Missouri  was  safe  outside  of  the  large  cities.  Out- 
rages were  being  committed  every  day,  and  this  was 
the  "safety"  which  Jackson  and  Price  promised,  for 
being  allowed  to  have  their  own  way. 

On  the  fifth  day  after  Guilford  Craig  had  left  for 
Jefferson  City,  Lawrence  was  surprised  at  his 
return. 

"  I  have  been  having  the  time  of  my  life,"  he  said 
with  a  laugh.  "  No  trouble  to  get  news  in  Jefferson 
City,  if  you  work  it  right.  I  was  undecided  whether 
to  go  in  disguise  or  as  Guilford  Craig.  I  concluded 
to  go  as  Guilford  Craig,  as  that  would  disarm  sus- 
picion. When  it  became  known  that  I  was  the  son 
of  Joseph  Craig,  and  that  I  was  one  of  Frost's  men 
captured  at  Camp  Jackson,  I  was  a  hero  right  away. 
I  was  introduced  to  both  Jackson  and  Price.  They 
asked  me  many  questions,  and  were  somewhat  sur- 
prised at  the  information  I  possessed.  But  when  I 
told  them  I  was  an  orderly  for  General  Frost,  they 
ceased  to  wonder.  I  also  gave  them  to  understand 
that  I  was  so  situated,  that  I  could  obtain  much  valu- 
able information  from  the  Union  side.  They  then 
questioned  me  very  sharply,  and  asked  me  to  return 


"THIS  MEANS  WAR"  265 

the  next  day,  as  they  might  have  a  proposition  to 
make. 

"  In  the  meantime  I  had  fallen  in  with  several  of 
the  boys  from  St.  Louis  whom  I  knew,  and  the  way 
we  hurrahed  for  Jeff  Davis,  and  damned  Lincoln 
was  a  caution.  I  think  Price  had  spies  watching  me, 
but  if  so  he  was  satisfied,  for  the  next  day  when  I 
met  Jackson  and  Price  they  were  very  gracious, 
and  when  I  left  them,  what  do  you  think  I  was?" 

"  I  don't  know/'  replied  Lawrence.  "  It  is  hard 
to  tell  what  you  will  do." 

"I  am  a  duly  accredited  spy,  in  the  employ  of 
General  Price." 

"  What ! "  exclaimed  Lawrence  in  surprise. 

"  Fact.    In  what  way  could  I  get  so  much  news?  " 

"But  the  danger,"  said  Lawrence.  "You  may  be 
putting  your  neck  in  a  noose." 

Guilford  laughed.  "  That  is  what  makes  the  game 
worth  the  playing,"  he  answered.  "If  there  were 
no  danger,  there  would  be  no  excitement." 

"It  's  a  game  I  would  not  care  to  have  a  hand 
in,"  said  Lawrence.  "  What  did  you  learn  at  Jeffer- 
son City?" 

"Nothing  startling,  yet  many  things  of  impor- 
tance. Jefferson  City  is  full  of  generals,  colonels, 
and  other  officers  not  so  important,  of  the  State 
Guards.  The  entire  efforts  of  Jackson  and  Price 
now  are  to  organize  the  Guards  all  over  the  State 


260  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

as  soon  as  possible.  They  are  playing  for  time 
now,  and  the  conservative  Union  men  are  the  cards 
they  are  using.  They  want  to  hold  Lyon  back  as 
long  as  possible,  and  so  they  want  to  talk  compromise 
until  the  last  moment. 

"  But  here  is  the  programme  in  full : 

"  *  First:  Fire  the  hearts  of  the  people,  by  claim- 
ing that  the  shooting  at  Camp  Jackson  was  entirely 
unprovoked,  that  it  was  simply  a  massacre,  as  was 
the  firing  on  the  mob  the  next  day. 

"  '  Second:  Organize  the  State  Guards  in  every 
county,  officered  by  men  known  to  be  true  to  the 
South.  In  the  meantime  let  the  driving  out  and 
terrorizing  of  the  Union  men  continue  in  full  blast. 

"  '  Third:  Call  an  election  to  decide  whether  Mis- 
souri shall  secede  or  not.  At  this  election  see  that 
as  few  Union  men  vote  as  possible.  Make  it  all  a 
man's  life  is  worth  to  vote  for  the  Union.  See  that 
the  State  Guards  do  their  duty,  as  to  preventing 
Union  men  voting. 

"  'Fourth:  As  soon  as  the  State  votes  for  seces- 
sion, turn  the  State  over  to  the  Confederacy/  ' 

"  It 's  a  lovely  plan,"  said  Lawrence.  "  Let  us  lose 
no  time  laying  it  before  Blair  and  Lyon." 

This  was  done,  Guilford  coming  in  disguise,  so 
he  would  not  be  known,  if  any  of  his  Confederate 
friends  saw  him. 

Lyon  listened  to  Guilford's  report  in  silence,  until 
he  was  through,  but  Lawrence  saw  a  look  of  sur- 


"THIS  MEANS  WAR"  267 

prise  come  over  his  face  when  Guilford  told  of  being 
employed  as  a  spy  by  General  Price. 

"  What  do  you  think,  Blair?  "  asked  Lyon,  after 
Guilford  had  made  his  report. 

"  His  report  tallies  with  what  I  hear  from  all  over 
the  State,"  said  Blair.  "A  reign  of  terror  exists, 
and  no  Union  man  is  safe.  Not  only  that,  but  they 
are  getting  many  people  to  believe  that  the  taking 
of  Camp  Jackson  was  uncalled  for,  and  that  firing 
on  the  mob  was  murder." 

"But  what  of  this  young  man  becoming  a  spy 
for  General  Price?  It  will  be  hard  for  him  to  sat- 
isfy both  sides." 

"That,"  replied  Blair,  "is  a  game  which  can  be 
played  easily  now,  but  not  when  both  armies  are  in 
the  field.  The  State  Guards  are  not  Confederate 
troops  yet,  therefore  the  Confederate  Government 
could  not  claim  young  Craig  as  a  spy,  even  if  cap- 
tured." 

"  I  think  that  would  not  save  him,  if  they  knew, 
but  we  will  talk  of  this  afterwards,"  answered  Lyon; 
"now  we  must  act  on  the  information  received. 
Some  of  the  plans  of  Jackson  and  Price  are  already 
giving  me  trouble.  I  am  being  harassed  to  death  by 
weak-kneed  Union  men,  to  meet  Jackson  and  Price, 
to  see  if  a  compromise  cannot  be  arranged.  The 
fools!  to  think  of  a  compromise  now  when  both 
North  and  South  are  marshalling  thousands  of  men 
who  will  soon  meet  in  the  shock  of  battle." 


268  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

"Better  meet  them,  and  have  it  done  with/'  re- 
marked Blair. 

"  I  believe  it  will  be  for  the  best,"  answered  Lyon. 
"  I  will  send  Jackson  and  Price  a  safe  conduct  to- 
morrow." 

Lyon  did  so,  and  Jackson  and  Price  came  on  to 
St.  Louis  to  meet  Lyon  and  Blair.  This  meeting, 
which  is  historic,  took  place  at  the  Planter's  House, 
on  the  eleventh  day  of  June.  On  one  side  were  Gov- 
ernor Jackson,  General  Price,  and  Thomas  L.  Snead. 
On  the  Union  side,  General  Lyon,  Frank  Blair,  and 
Major  Conant.  The  meeting  lasted  four  or  five 
hours.  Colonel  Snead  in  speaking  of  it  said :  "  Lyon 
held  his  own  at  every  point  against  Jackson  and 
Price,  masters  though  they  were  of  Missouri  poli- 
tics." 

With  Jackson  and  Price  it  was  the  same  old  story 
of  deceit  and  subterfuge.  They  would  go  on  or- 
ganizing the  State  Guards.  The  Federal  Govern- 
ment must  not  interfere.  No  United  States  soldiers 
must  be  brought  into  the  State,  none  must  be  en- 
listed in  the  State.  Those  already  there  must  not 
be  moved  from  where  they  were. 

Disgusted,  Lyon  abruptly  closed  the  discussion  by 
saying :  "  Rather  than  concede  to  the  State  of 
Missouri  the  right  to  demand  that  my  Government 
shall  not  enlist  troops  within  her  limits,  or  bring 
troops  in  whenever  she  pleases,  or  move  troops  at 
her  own  will  into,  out  of,  or  through  the  State; 


"THIS  MEANS  WAR"  269 

rather  than  concede  to  the  State  of  Missouri  for 
one  single  instant  the  right  to  dictate  to  my  Govern- 
ment in  any  matter  however  unimportant,  I  would" 
—  rising  and  pointing  to  each  one  in  the  room  in 
turn  —  "see  you,  and  you,  and  you,  and  you,  and 
every  man,  woman,  and  child  in  the  State,  dead  and 
buried.  This  means  war"  Without  another  word, 
he  turned  and  left  the  room,  his  sword  clanking 
by  his  side. 

For  a  time  there  was  a  death-like  silence  in  that 
room.  Not  a  man  there  but  was  every  inch  a  soldier, 
but  they  all  paled  at  Lyon's  words.  These  words 
meant  to  Jackson  and  Price  loyalty  to  the  Union, 
or  war.  They  chose  war. 

For  four  years  Missouri  was  to  be  furrowed  with 
the  red-hot  plough-share  of  internecine  strife.  It 
was  a  war  more  horrible  than  visited  any  other 
State.  On  the  Union  side  it  meant  war  with  the 
guerilla  bands  of  Quantrel  Anderson,  and  scores  of 
others  as  bloody.  On  the  Confederate  side,  it  meant 
Jennison,  with  his  Jayhawkers,  the  devastation  of 
homes,  arrests,  prison;  it  meant  cold-blooded  mur- 
ders, men  shot  down  in  the  presence  of  their  fam- 
ilies; it  meant  a  war  in  which  the  black  flag  was 
raised,  and  no  quarter  given.  That  is  what  Gov- 
ernor Jackson  gave  the  State  he  professed  to  love, 
when  he  chose  war. 


CHAPTER  XX 

THE  ADVANCE  ON  JEFFERSON  CITY 

"IT    IEUTENANT   MIDDLETON,"   said  Gen- 

,eral  Lyon,  as  he  entered  his  headquarters 

after  his  memorable  interview,   "  Governor 

Jackson   and   General   Price  are  at  the   Planter's 

Hotel.    See  that  they  leave  the  city  in  an  hour.    If 

they  are  in  the  city  at  the  expiration  of  that  time, 

arrest  them." 

Lawrence  saluted,  and  taking  an  orderly  with 
him,  proceeded  to  the  hotel,  but  found  both  Jackson 
and  Price  ready  to  take  their  departure.  They  had 
come  on  an  extra  train,  and  lost  no  time  in  taking 
it  back  to  Jefferson  City.  He  rode  down  to  the 
depot,  to  see  them  off.  "How  I  should  like  to 
arrest  them/'  thought  he,  "but  they  know  what  is 
good  for  them,  and  will  get  away  in  time." 

As  the  train  moved  out,  he  was  surprised  to  see 
Guilford  Craig  board  the  rear  car.  "  What  will  that 
boy  be  doing  next?"  muttered  Lawrence.  "If  he 
keeps  on,  he  will  soon  be  hobnobbing  with  Jeff 
Davis." 

He  would  have  known  what  Guilford  was  doing, 
if  he  had  been  on  the  train,  for  hardly  was  it  out  of 
the  station,  before  he  was  in  close  conversation  with 
the  Governor  and  the  General.  It  was  a  great  story 

270 


THE  ADVANCE  ON  JEFFERSON  CITY          271 

he  told  them.  Lyon  had  fifteen  thousand  soldiers 
—  they  were  all  ready  to  march  —  Lyon  would  not 
wait  a  minute  after  their  safe  conduct  was  out  —  no 
doubt  he  was  already  making  up  trains  to  pursue 
them,  or  loading  his  troops  on  steamboats. 

"How  do  you  get  all  your  information?  "  asked 
General  Price. 

"From  a  friend  who  is  close  to  Frank  Blair," 
answered  Guilford,  without  hesitation.  "He  poses 
as  a  great  friend  of  the  Union,  on  purpose  to  get 
information/' 

Both  Governor  Jackson  and  General  Price  were 
much  depressed  by  what  Guilford  told  them. 

"Governor,  if  what  Craig  tells  us  is  true,  and  I 
have  heard  the  same  from  others/'  said  the  General, 
"it  will  be  impossible  for  us  to  hold  Jefferson  City. 
Lyon  will  be  on  us  in  two  or  three  days,  and  it  will 
be  impossible  for  me  to  bring  over  two  thousand 
poorly  armed  men  to  oppose  him." 

The  Governor  groaned.  "  It  will  be  a  terrible 
blow  to  our  cause  to  give  up  the  capital/'  he  ex- 
claimed. "  Where  will  you  concentrate,  if  the  capi- 
tal is  given  up  ?  " 

"  At  Boonville,"  was  the  answer.  "  But  if  Lyon 
moves  with  celerity,  even  that  will  have  to  go,  and 
then  Lexington.  I  am  in  hopes  I  can  hold  Lexing- 
ton. If  the  State  Guards  answer  your  call  as  I  think 
they  will,  in  two  weeks  I  ought  to  be  able  to  have 
ten  thousand  troops  at  Lexington.  Time  —  time  is 


272  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

what  I  want,  but  I  am  afraid  Lyon  will  not  give  it 
to  me." 

"  I  will  spoil  his  fun  in  moving  on  the  railroad/' 
said  the  Governor.  "  I  will  order  the  bridges  over 
the  Gasconade  and  the  Osage  to  be  burned  as  soon 
as  we  pass  over  them.  This  should  delay  Lyon  at 
least  two  days." 

Guilford  had  heard  all  he  wished,  so  he  suggested 
that  they  let  him  off  at  the  first  station,  and  he  would 
go  back  and  watch  the  movements  of  Lyon.  This 
pleased  both  the  Governor  and  the  General,  so  Guil- 
ford left  the  train  at  the  first  stop  to  make  his  way 
back  to  the  city. 

Both  the  Governor  and  General  Price  were  thor- 
oughly alarmed.  They  reached  Jefferson  City  at 
two  o'clock  in  the  morning,  but  there  was  no  sleep 
for  them.  A  proclamation  was  prepared  and  tele- 
graphed over  the  State  calling  for  fifty  thousand 
men  to  drive  the  Federal  army  off  the  sacred  soil  of 
Missouri. 

The  citizens  became  intensely  excited  when  it 
became  known  that  the  city  was  to  be  given  up  with- 
out a  struggle.  Curses  loud  and  deep  were  hurled 
at  the  officials.  Many  of  the  more  prominent  se- 
cessionists hurriedly  packed  their  goods  in  wagons, 
and  fled  to  the  country.  Others  who  had  been 
rampant  secessionists  suddenly  became  good  Union 
men. 

Lyon  knew  that  time  meant  everything  to  him, 


THE  ADVANCE  ON  JEFFERSON  CITY         273 

and  he  did  not  lose  a  moment  in  making  prepara- 
tions to  strike  a  telling  blow  before  General  Price 
had  time  to  concentrate  any  considerable  force.  Lyon 
did  not  have  an  available  force  of  over  five  thousand 
men,  but  he  did  not  hesitate.  Dividing  this  small 
force  into  two  divisions  he  made  preparations  for 
an  immediate  advance.  One  division,  under  Sigel 
and  Sweeney,  was  to  strike  for  Southwest  Missouri. 
The  other  division,  consisting  of  scarcely  two  thou- 
sand men,  he  was  to  lead  himself  up  the  Missouri, 
and  strike  the  force  of  General  Price,  which  he 
supposed  would  concentrate  at  Jefferson  City.  He 
was  soon  to  learn  that  General  Price  had  concluded 
to  abandon  Jefferson  City,  and  make  his  first  stand 
at  Boonville;  and  this  news  was  brought  by  Guil- 
ford  Craig. 

On  the  forenoon  of  the  twelfth,  an  orderly  came 
to  Lawrence  and  told  him  a  young  man  who  in- 
sisted he  must  see  Lieutenant  Middleton,  had  been 
stopped  by  the  guard.  He  said  he  must  see  -him  as 
quickly  as  possible,  as  he  had  important  information 
to  impart. 

"  Bring  him  to  me,"  said  Lawrence. 

The  orderly  soon  returned  accompanied  by  a  slim, 
rather  delicate-looking  youth  with  a  brown  mus- 
tache, and  rather  long,  dark,  curling  hair.  Law- 
rence glanced  at  him,  and  did  not  recollect  ever  hav- 
ing seen  him  before. 

"You  wished  to  see  me,  I  believe?"  questioned 


274  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

Lawrence.  "  I  have  but  a  moment  to  spare,  as  I  am 
very  busy.  What  is  it  ?  " 

"  My  information  is  for  your  ears  alone/'  replied 
the  youth  in  a  soft  Southern  accent. 

Lawrence  made  a  sign  to  the  orderly,  who  at  once 
withdrew.  No  sooner  were  they  alone  than  the 
young  man  by  a  quick  movement  removed  his  false 
mustache  and  hair,  and  Guilford  Craig  stood  before 
him. 

For  a  moment  Lawrence  could  only  stand  and 
stare  in  astonishment ;  then  he  exclaimed,  "  Guil- 
ford, as  I  live!  I  should  never  have  known  you. 
But  how  did  you  come  here?  I  could  swear  I  saw 
you  board  the  Governor's  train  last  night." 

"  So  you  did,  but  I  rode  with  them  only  a  few 
miles.  I  found  out  all  I  wanted,  so  dropped  off  and 
came  back.  How  do  you  like  my  disguise  ?  " 

"  Capital.  You  completely  fooled  me ;  but  why  do 
you  assume  it?" 

"  Because  it  would  never  do  for  Guilford  Craig, 
who  is  a  red-hot  Rebel,  and  in  the  employ  of  General 
Price,  to  be  seen  hobnobbing  with  General  Lyon,  or 
holding  a  secret  conference  with  Lieutenant  Middle- 
ton,  his  chief  of  secret  service.  When  I  am  with  you 
I  am  Charles  Morris,  at  your  service.  Please  re- 
member." 

"All  right,  Morris,"  replied  Lawrence  with  a 
smile,  "what  have  you  learned?" 

"  That  Governor  Jackson  and  General  Price  are 


THE  ADVANCE  ON  JEFFERSON  CITY         275 

scared  out  of  their  wits.  When  I  say  'scared,'  I 
don't  mean  they  are  physically  afraid,  for  they  are 
both  brave  men,  as  brave  as  men  are  made,  but 
they  are  frightened  over  the  situation.  The  sud- 
denness of  Lyon's  movement  has  taken  them  by  sur- 
prise, and  they  are  not  prepared.  I  heard  General 
Price  say, '  Oh !  if  he  would  only  give  us  two  weeks ! ' 
I  told  them  Lyon  had  fifteen  thousand  men,  and 
without  doubt  would  move  on  Jefferson  City  with- 
out delay.  General  Price  then  said  it  would  be 
impossible  to  hold  the  capital,  and  that  he  would 
concentrate  his  forces  at  Boonville  and  Lexington. 
The  Governor  hated  to  give  up  Jefferson  City,  but  at 
last  consented  to  the  plan  of  the  General.  They 
were  afraid  General  Lyon  might  move  by  rail,  and 
therefore  the  Governor  said  he  would  give  orders 
to  have  the  bridges  over  the  Gasconade  and  the 
Osage  burned  as  soon  as  their  train  had  passed 
over  them." 

"General  Lyon  must  know  this  immediately," 
said  Lawrence. 

Therefore  Guilford  was  conducted  to  the  Gen- 
eral to  whom  he  told  his  story.  Lyon  listened  at- 
tentively and  then  said,  "  I  have  just  received  word 
from  a  trusty  agent  that  the  bridges  are  burning,  but 
it  makes  little  difference,  for  I  shall  move  by  boat; 
yet  it  might  be  well  to  make  a  diversion  by  rail,  as 
far  as  the  Gasconade.  The  earliest  I  can  get  away 
by  boat  is  to-morrow." 


276  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

Lawrence  jumped  at  the  idea  of  a  diversion  by 
rail.  " General/'  he  exclaimed,  "why  not  make  a 
diversion  by  rail  this  afternoon.  We  can  make  a 
great  show  of  force.  The  train  can  come  back 
during  the  night.  As  for  me,  I  ask  the  privilege  of 
taking  ^  small  party  to  scout  through  to  Jefferson 
City  on  the  south  side  of  the  river.  If  Price  is  to 
evacuate  the  city,  there  will  be  no  force  of  State 
troops  of  any  size  on  this  side." 

The  General  thought  a  moment,  and  then  asked 
how  large  a  party  he  would  need  for  the  scout. 

"Not  more  than  four  or  five  men  besides  my- 
self/' answered  Lawrence.  "A  large  party  would 
defeat  my  object,  that  of  gaining  information/' 

"But  they  would  know  you  were  Federals  by 
your  uniforms,"  said  the  General. 

"  That  is  the  reason  I  desire  a  small  party,"  said 
Lawrence,  "we  would  go  as  citizens,  not  as 
soldiers." 

"It  would  be  somewhat  dangerous,"  replied  the 
General.  "I  would  not  order  you  to  take  such  a 
risk,  but  if  you  desire  to  take  the  scout,  I  will  not 
order  otherwise." 

Lawrence  was  overjoyed  at  the  permission. 
Orders  were  at  once  given  to  prepare  an  extra  train. 
It  was  to  consist  of  several  cars,  with  about  two 
hundred  soldiers.  These  were  to  make  a  show  as  if 
the  cars  were  crowded.  Lawrence  chose  Guilford, 
Carl  Mayer,  and  two  more  good  and  true  men  to 


THE  ADVANCE  ON  JEFFERSON  CITY         277 

accompany  him  on  the  scout.  They  took  five  horses 
without  brands,  in  a  box  car.  For  arms  they  took 
two  revolvers  each. 

By  two  o'clock  all  was  ready,  and  the  train 
started.  They  found  great  crowds  at  every  station 
through  which  they  passed,  and  the  country  in- 
tensely excited. 

"The  Yankees  have  come!"  "The  Yankees 
have  come!"  was  the  cry.  The  train  was  greeted 
with  curses,  mingled  with  cheers.  At  Herman,  the 
last  town  before  they  reached  the  Gasconade,  there 
was  an  immense  crowd.  They  knew  the  bridge  over 
the  river  had  been  burned,  and  the  soldiers  were 
greeted  with,  "  You  have  gone  about  as  far  as  you 
will.  Pop  Price  is  too  smart  for  you.  You  don't 
get  to  Jefferson  City  to-day,  and  when  you  do  get 
there  you  will  find  a  warm  reception." 

Finding  the  crowd  turbulent,  and  disposed  to 
mischief,  half  of  the  force  was  left  there,  and  the 
word  was  given  out  that  if  any  person  was  found 
tampering  with  the  railroad  track  he  would  be  shot 
at  once.  Before  the  guns  and  bright  bayonets 
of  the  soldiers,  the  crowd  sullenly  dispersed.  With 
the  rest  of  the  soldiers,  the  train  cautiously  pro- 
ceeded on  its  way  to  the  Gasconade.  The  bridge 
was  still  burning,  and  some  horsemen  were  watch- 
ing it  from  the  opposite  side.  A  few  shots  were 
fired,  and  the  horsemen  fled  precipitately,  and  word 
was  telegraphed  to  Jefferson  City  that  the  Yankee 


278  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

army  was  already  as  far  as  the  Gasconade.  This 
news  hastened  the  flight  of  the  Governor  and  Gen- 
eral Price  from  the  capital. 

The  train  was  backed  up  and  stopped  in  a  wood, 
where  it  was  concealed  from  observation.  Here 
Lawrence  and  his  little  party  left  the  train.  They 
had  come  prepared,  and  all  were  dressed  in  citizens' 
clothes.  It  was  now  dark,  and  with  many  hand- 
shakes and  wishes  for  success,  the  officers  on  the 
train  bade  them  good-bye. 

Said  the  Major  in  command:  "Boys,  I  had 
rather  go  back  than  be  in  your  boots.  You  will  be 
lucky  if  you  are  not  all  swinging  at  the  ends  of 
ropes  in  less  than  two  days/' 

"A  cheerful  prospect  surely,"  replied  Lawrence, 
"but  I  trust  you  will  prove  a  false  prophet." 

"  Well,  take  care  of  yourself,  and  keep  your  pow- 
der dry,"  remarked  the  Major,  as  he  stepped  on 
board  the  now  moving  train,  and  Lawrence  and  his 
companions  were  left  alone  —  alone  in  the  midst  of 
enemies. 

They  held  a  consultation,  and  resolved  to  pass 
themselves  as  young  men  from  St.  Louis  on  their 
way  to  join  Price's  army.  They  also  concluded  to 
ride  some  miles  south  before  crossing  the  Gasconade. 
This  would  also  take  them  away  from  the  railroad, 
and  thus  they  should  avoid  the  towns.  Finding  a 
road  which  led  south,  they  rode  at  a  good  pace 
for  some  half  an  hour,  when  they  began  to  think  of 


THE  ADVANCE  ON  JEFFERSON  CITY         279 

trying  to  secure  lodgings  for  the  night.  Meeting 
a  man,  they  asked  if  he  knew  of  any  place  that 
would  be  apt  to  keep  them.  He  scratched  his  head, 
and  then  slowly  replied : 

"I  reckon  Gunnel  Bell  would,  if  you'n  be  of  the 
right  sort.  He  lives  about  a  mile  farther  on." 

"What  do  you  call  the  right  sort?"  asked  Law- 
rence. 

"Well,  the  Gunnel  is  a  tearing  secessionist. 
Form  your  own  conclusions." 

"  I  see,"  replied  Lawrence,  laughing.  "  Many 
Southern  men  around  here?" 

"Yes,  there  is  right  smart." 

"  Any  Union  men  ?  " 

"  A  sprinkling  but  they  keep  mighty  quiet." 

"Which  side  do  you  train  with?"  asked  Law- 
rence. 

"Look  here,  stranger,  air  you'ns  tryin'  to  get  me 
into  trouble?"  asked  the  man,  evidently  very  un- 
easy. "I  am  a  peaceable  citizen,  I  am.  I  told  you'ns 
the  Gunnel  was  a  tearing  Southern  man.  Is  n't  that 
enough?" 

"Quite  enough,"  said  Lawrence,  "and  we  thank 
you  for  the  information.  Good-night,"  and  they 
rode  on. 

The  man  shook  his  head,  as  he  watched  them; 
disappear.  "Now,  I  wonder  who  they  be,"  he 
asked  himself.  "  If  they  be  Union,  thar  will 
be  trouble  if  they  stop  at  the  Gunners.  If  they  be 


280  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

secesh,  the  Gunnel  will  give  them  the  best  he  has. 
Wanted  to  know  which  side  I  trained  with !  If  Silas 
Kemp  knows  himself,  he  is  keeping  mighty  mum 
nowadays." 

It  proved  a  long  mile  to  Colonel  Bell's.  As  the 
night  was  quite  dark,  they  could  see  but  little  of 
the  place,  but  the  house  proved  a  large  and  imposing 
one.  In  answer  to  their  hail,  a  negro  came  to  the 
door,  and  asked,  "Who  is  dar?" 

"Tell  your  master,"  said  Lawrence,  "that  five 
young  men  from  St.  Louis,  and  on  their  way  to 
Price's  army,  have  been  belated,  and  crave  enter- 
tainment for  the  night." 

The  negro  disappeared,  and  in  a  moment  a  white- 
haired  gentleman  with  a  decided  limp  came  to  the 
door. 

"  If  you  are  what  you  represent,"  said  the  Colonel, 
"you  are  more  than  welcome.  Please  dismount. 
Jim,"  turning  to  the  negro,  "call  Rufus  and  Tom, 
and  see  that  the  gentlemen's  horses  are  cared  for." 

The  Colonel  then  ushered  his  guests  into  the 
house.  Everything  showed  that  it  was  the  abode 
of  wealth  and  refinement.  The  Colonel  first  asked 
if  they  had  had  supper,  and  on  being  answered  in 
the  negative,  he  gave  orders  that  a  meal  be  prepared. 

"  May  I  ask,"  said  the  Colonel,  "  whom  I  enter- 
tain? And  as  you  are  from  St.  Louis,  I  trust  you 
can  give  me  all  the  news." 

Before  Lawrence  could  answer,  Guilford  spoke 


THE  ADVANCE  ON  JEFFERSON  CITY         281 

up.  "Allow  me,  Colonel  Bell,  to  introduce  to  you, 
our  leader,  Lieutenant  Middleton,  the  son  of  Alfred 
Middleton,  the  well  known  banker  of  St.  Louis. 
This  gentleman,"  pointing  to  Carl  Mayer,  "  is  Ran- 
dolph Hamilton,  and  I  am  Benton  Shelley,  the  step- 
son of  Joseph  Craig.  These  other  two  gentlemen 
are  named  Harris  and  Sherman,  both  sons  of  promi- 
nent citizens  of  St.  Louis." 

During  this  remarkable  recital,  Lawrence  and  the 
others  could  only  sit  and  stare  in  astonishment  at 
the  temerity  of  Guilford.  They  durst  not  contradict 
him,  so  remained  silent.  But  the  effect  on  their  host 
was  apparent. 

"  Gentlemen,  I  had  no  idea,"  he  exclaimed,  "  I 
was  so  highly  honored  by  your  presence.  Although 
every  friend  of  the  South  is  welcome  here,  you  are 
doubly  so.  I  am  personally  acquainted  with  your 
father,  sir,"  bowing  to  Lawrence,  "and  Messrs. 
Hamilton  and  Craig  I  know  by  reputation.  But 
if  I  may  ask,  what  fortune  or  misfortune  has  brought 
you  here?" 

Lawrence,  seeing  the  deception  must  now  be  kept 
up,  said,  "  Three  of  us  were  with  Frost's  command 
when  taken  prisoners  at  Camp  Jackson.  Our  pa- 
roles have  since  been  declared  illegal,  and  we  are  at 
liberty  to  fight  for  the  cause  we  so  love.  But  Frank 
Blair  and  General  Lyon  have  St.  Louis  by  the  throat. 
To  enlist  in  the  State  Guards,  we  have  to  steal  out 
of  the  city.  This  we  did,  but  when  we  reached  Her- 


282  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

man  we  were  surprised  by  a  train-load  of  Yankee 
soldiers." 

"What?  Yankee  soldiers  at  Herman ?"  asked 
the  Colonel  in  surprise. 

"Yes.  Have  you  not  heard  the  latest  news?" 
asked  Lawrence. 

"No,  I  was  in  Jefferson  City  Sunday,  and  was 
so  unfortunate  as  to  severely  strain  my  ankle  in  step- 
ping from  the  train.  Governor  Jackson  and  General 
Price  were  then  trying  to  arrange  a  meeting  with 
Lyon  to  see  if  some  sort  of  a  compromise  could  not 
be  effected.  They  are  fighting  for  time.  If  they  can 
only  get  the  State  Guards  thoroughly  organized, 
they  can  drive  the  Yankees  from  the  State." 

"The  meeting  took  place  yesterday,"  said  Law- 
rence. "Lyon  would  yield  nothing,  and  gave  the 
Governor  and  General  Price  an  hour  in  which  to 
leave  the  city.  They  came  back  to  Jefferson  City 
last  night,  and  gave  orders  for  the  railroad  bridges 
over  the  Gasconade  and  Osage  to  be  burned.  If  this 
had  not  been  done,  the  Yankees  we  saw  at  Herman 
would  be  in  Jefferson  City  by  this  time." 

"But  Price  will  hold  Jefferson  City  against  the 
Yankee  cut-throats,"  exclaimed  the  Colonel. 

"There  is  a  rumor  that  he  has  already  given 
orders  for  its  evacuation,"  replied  Lawrence. 

The  Colonel  leaped  from  his  chair  in  his  excite- 
ment, forgetting  his  lame  ankle.  "  Impossible !  Im- 
possible ! "  he  cried.  "  General  Price  and  the  State 


Lawrence  saw  the  General  reel  in  his  saddle 


THE  ADVANCE  ON  JEFFERSON  CITY         283 

Guards  will  die  right  there  before  they  will  yield 
up  Jefferson  City." 

"  The  rumor  may  be  false ;  we  can  only  hope  for 
the  best/'  replied  Lawrence,  giving  his  answer  a 
Delphic  meaning. 

Here  supper  was  announced,  and  the  boys  were 
introduced  to  the  Colonel's  wife  and  daughter,  the 
latter  a  lovely  girl  of  twenty  who  was  all  gracious- 
ness,  and  who  was  positive  the  Yankees  could  never 
capture  Jefferson  City.  The  next  morning  a  royal 
breakfast  was  given  them,  and  the  party  were  sent 
on  their  way,  amid  the  best  wishes  of  the  whole 
household.  The  young  lady  extracted  a  promise 
from  Lawrence  that  he  would  surely  call  if  ever 
he  came  that  way  again. 

"The  Lieutenant  has  made  a  conquest/'  chuckled 
Guilford,  as  they  rode  away.  "She  is  a  beauty,  all 
right;  wouldn't  mind  if  I  were  in  the  Lieutenant's 
boots." 

"Guilford,  how  could  you  deceive  those  good 
people  so?"  asked  Lawrence.  "It  was  bad  enough 
for  us  to  represent  that  we  were  going  to  join  Price's 
army.  What  would  my  cousin  think,  if  he  knew  I 
had  been  masquerading  under  his  name?  " 

Guilford  threw  back  his  head,  and  gave  one  of 
the  heartiest  laughs  Lawrence  ever  heard  him  give. 
"That  was  just  rich/'  he  exclaimed;  "I  wish  the 
boys  might  know  some  day." 

They  knew  sooner  than  Guilford  thought,   for 


284  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

Lawrence  and  his  party  had  been  gone  hardly  an 
hour  when  three  horsemen  rode  up  to  Colonel  Bell's 
to  inquire  the  best  way  to  get  across  the  Gasconade, 
saying  they  were  from  St.  Louis,  and  on  their  way 
to  join  Price. 

"I  am  glad  to  see  so  many  of  you  young  men  from 
St.  Louis  on  your  wray  to  join  General  Price/'  said 
the  Colonel.  "Five  young  men,  all  fine  fellows  and 
from  the  best  families  of  St.  Louis,  stayed  with  me 
last  night,  on  their  way  to  join  Price." 

"Do  you  know  who  they  were?  "  queried  one  of 
the  three,  much  interested. 

"Yes.  One  was  the  son  of  the  rich  banker, 
Alfred  Middleton,  another  was  Randolph  Hamilton, 
the  son  of  Judge  Hamilton,  and  a  third  was  Benton 
Shelley,  who  said  he  was  the  step-son  of  Joseph 
Craig,  the  rich  broker.  I  believe  the  names  of  the 
other  two  were  Harris  and  Sherman." 

The  three  young  men  looked  at  each  other  in 
utter  astonishment.  For  a  moment  surprise  ren- 
dered them  speechless;  then  one  exclaimed,  "You 
have  been  most  grossly  deceived.  I  am  Edward 
Middleton,  the  son  of  Alfred  Middleton;  this  gen- 
tlemen," pointing  to  one  of  his  companions,  "is  Ran- 
dolph Hamilton;  and  this  one,"  pointing  to  the  re- 
maining one,  "is  Benton  Shelley.  There  has  been 
queer  work  here  for  some  reason." 

"You  may  depend  that  precious  cousin  of  yours 
is  at  the  bottom  of  this,"  spoke  up  Benton  Shelley. 


THE  ADVANCE  ON  JEFFERSON  CITY         285 

"Describe   them,"   they  all   demanded  at   once. 

Colonel  Bell  did  the  best  he  could,  but  the  only 
one  recognized  was  Lawrence. 

"Yes,  no  doubt  my  cousin  was  at  the  bottom  of 
the  whole  thing,"  said  Edward,  bitterly.  "The 
reason  is  plain.  He  is  at  the  head  of  the  Secret 
Service  of  General  Lyon.  He  is  spying  out  the 
land.  It  is  easy  for  him  with  a  small  party,  to 
ride  through  the  country,  taking  our  names  and 
representing  that  they  are  on  the  way  to  join 
Price." 

"The  whole  party  will  swing  if  we  can  catch 
them,"  eagerly  exclaimed  Benton.  "  How  long  do 
you  say  they  have  been  gone?" 

"  About  an  hour,"  said  Colonel  Bell. 

"Let  us  after  them,"  cried  Benton,  "by  hard 
riding  I  believe  we  can  overtake  them." 

But  this  was  overruled  by  Edward  and  Ran- 
dolph under  the  plea  that  it  might  injure  the  horses. 
But  the  fact  was,  Edward  did  not  wish  to  engage  in 
a  conflict  with  his  cousin. 

Little  thinking  that  their  identity  had  been  dis- 
covered, Lawrence  and  his  party  continued  on  their 
way,  congratulating  themselves  that  so  far  their 
trip  had  been  a  success.  Their  route  led  them 
some  miles  south  of  Jefferson  City,  and  along  in  the 
afternoon  as  they  turned  to  ride  direct  to  the  city, 
they  were  surprised  to  meet  numerous  vehicles 
filled  with  household  goods,  and  carriages  loaded 


286  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

down  with  women  and  children.  From  all  whom 
they  met  came  the  same  story:  The  city  was  in  a 
terrible  state  of  excitement,  and  was  being  deserted 
by  the  State  troops.  The  Governor  and  General 
Price  were  preparing  to  flee.  The  Yankees  were 
expected  any  moment,  and  would  not  be  opposed. 
The  city  would  be  at  their  mercy,  and  there  was 
no  knowing  what  would  happen  when  they  took 
possession. 

Lawrence  and  his  party  were  urged  not  to  enter 
the  city,  but  to  keep  on  west  to  Tipton,  where 
General  Parsons  was  retreating  with  the  State 
troops  which  had  fled  from  the  capital.  But  Law- 
rence said  that  he  would  investigate  the  situation 
before  joining  Price. 

When  they  neared  the  city,  a  halt  was  made,  and 
Carl  Mayer  said:  " There  are  a  great  many  Ger- 
mans in  Jefferson  City,  and  though  they  have  had 
to  keep  quiet,  I  know  they  are  as  true  to  the  Union 
as  are  the  Germans  of  St.  Louis.  I  am  personally 
acquainted  with  several  Germans  who  live  here. 
Let  me  go  ahead  and  investigate." 

This  was  agreed  to,  and  the  little  party  withdrew 
to  a  wood  where  they  were  screened  from  observa- 
tion, and  Carl  rode  on  alone.  He  was  gone  so  long 
that  it  became  dark,  and  Lawrence  began  to  be 
alarmed  over  his  absence,  when  he  appeared  with 
the  good  news  that  he  had  found  an  old  friend, 
and  that  they  would  be  welcomed  gladly.  "I  found 


THE  ADVANCE  ON  JEFFERSON  CITY          287 

the   Germans  of  the  city  secretly  organized/'   he 
said,  "and  we  shall  be  perfectly  safe/' 

Carl  led  the  way,  and  it  was  not  long  before 
they  were  under  a  hospitable  German  roof,  the  first 
of  Lyon's  army  to  enter  Jefferson  City. 


CHAPTER  XXI 

BOONVILLE 

CARL'S  German  friend  was  named  Kuenster, 
and  judging  from  the  meal  which  Mrs.  Kuen- 
ster set  out  for  our  hungry  scouts,  famine  had 
not  come  to  Jefferson  City,  even  if  it  were  war 
time.  After  their  hunger  had  been  fully  satisfied, 
Lawrence  and  Guilford  took  a  stroll  around  the 
little  city.  They  found  the  streets  filled  with  excited 
citizens,  and  the  one  topic  of  conversation  was  the 
desertion  of  the  city  by  the  State  authorities,  and 
the  coming  of  Lyon.  The  Unionists,  who  for 
months  had  lived  in  fear  and  trembling,  not  daring 
to  avow  their  sentiments,  now  began  to  assert  them- 
selves, and  cheers  were  heard  for  the  Union  and  for 
Lyon. 

As  for  the  Southern  element,  they  were  com- 
pletely dumbfounded  by  the  desertion  of  their  lead- 
ers. As  we  have  noticed,  many  of  the  more  promi- 
nent secessionists  had  left  the  city,  and  others  were 
preparing  to  leave.  Those  who  expected  to  remain 
became  very  quiet,  and  there  were  some  sudden  con- 
versions to  the  Union  side.  Lawrence  found  that 
the  State  troops  under  General  Parsons  had  left 
during  the  forenoon,  going  west.  His  force  was 

288 


BOONVILLE  289 

estimated  at  one  thousand.  Governor  Jackson  and 
General  Price  with  their  staffs  had  taken  passage  on 
a  steamboat  and  gone  up  the  river.  Governor  Jack- 
son was  never  to  enter  the  capital  again.  He  had 
waged  a  desperate  fight,  and  lost.  When  the  little 
steamboat  on  which  he  was,  steamed  up  the  river, 
and  the  capital  faded  from  view,  it  was  in  the  book 
of  Fate  that  he  should  never  see  it  again. 

After  learning  all  he  could,  Lawrence  returned  to 
Mr.  Kuenster's,  where  he  resolved  to  remain  quietly 
until  Lyon  came. 

The  next  morning  Guilford  announced  his  inten- 
tion of  taking  a  scout  by  himself.  Privately  he 
told  Lawrence  that  his  destination  was  the  camp 
of  General  Parsons.  "I  want/'  he  said,  "to  find 
out  where  he  has  gone,  and  what  his  orders  are." 

Lawrence  demurred,  on  account  of  the  danger, 
but  Guilford  only  laughed.  "  This  disguise,"  he  said, 
"  will  come  off,  and  I  shall  go  as  Guilford  Craig,  and 
Guilford  Craig  is  a  privileged  character  among  the 
State  troops.  What  do  you  think  of  this  ?  "  and  he 
handed  Lawrence  a  paper. 

Lawrence  took  it,  and  to  his  astonishment  read: 

To  all  officers  and  soldiers  of  the  Missouri  State 

Guards : 

Pass  the  bearer,  Guilford  Craig,  at  all  times,  and 
in  all  places,  without  question. 

By  order  of  General  Sterling  Price, 

Com.  Missouri  State  Guards. 

"When  did  you  get  this?"  asked  Lawrence. 


290  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

"  That  evening  on  the  cars.  Why  should  he  not 
give  it  to  me  ?  Am  I  not  one  of  his  trusted  spies  ?  " 

"  It  is  a  desperate  game  you  are  playing,  Guilford. 
Surely  you  have  to  give  General  Price  some  infor- 
mation of  value,  or  he  would  mistrust  you." 

"  The  information  I  give  him  will  never  lead  him 
to  any  great  victory,"  said  Guilford,  smiling.  "I 
am  careful.  My  value  is  the  information  that  I  will 
give  General  Lyon.  Have  no  fear  of  me.  I  shall  be 
back  sometime  to-morrow.  Good-bye,  until  I  see 
you." 

Lawrence  watched  him  as  he  rode  away,  and  the 
thought  flashed  across  his  mind,  "  What  if  he  is  de- 
ceiving me,  and  General  Lyon,  and  is  in  reality  a  spy 
for  Price?"  But  he  put  the  thought  away  as  un- 
worthy, after  all  that  Guilford  had  done.  Carl  and 
the  other  two  soldiers  with  Lawrence  were  a  little 
curious  to  know  what  had  become  of  the  man  they 
knew  as  Charles  Morris,  but  Lawrence  told  them  he 
was  out  on  a  little  scout  of  his  own,  and  that  sat- 
isfied them. 

During  the  day  the  same  excited  crowds  thronged 
the  streets,  and  more  than  once  the  cry  was  raised 
that  Lyon  was  coming.  As  Lawrence  well  knew, 
these  were  false  alarms,  but  in  the  afternoon  he 
had  a  surprise,  and  for  a  time  it  looked  as  if  he 
might  have  more  excitement  than  he  wished.  He 
and  Carl  were  idly  loitering  through  the  city,  but 
keeping  their  eyes  open,  when  on  turning  a  corner 


BOONVILLE  291 

they  suddenly  came  face  to  face  with  the  three  young 
gentlemen  they  had  personated  at  Colonel  Bell's. 
There  was  no  way  of  escape.  It  is  hard  to  say 
which  party  was  the  more  astonished.  For  a  mo- 
ment, they  could  only  stare  at  each  other,  then 
almost  involuntarily  the  hands  of  the  three  Confed- 
erates went  to  their  hip  pockets,  and  Carl's  did  the 
same.  Lawrence  saw  the  movement.  Above  all 
things  he  wished  no  street  fight,  especially  with  his 
cousin. 

"  Don't  be  a  fool,  I  have  more  friends  here  than 
you  think/'  he  said  to  Edward  in  a  low  voice,  then 
exclaimed  in  a  joyful  tone,  as  if  he  had  met  a  dear 
friend,  "Why,  Edward,  is  that  you?  Glad  to  see 
you.  How  in  the  world  did  you  come  here?" 

"Not  as  you  did,  under  an  assumed  name,"  re- 
torted Edward  surlily.  "  And  when  you  desire  to 
change  your  name  again,  please  don't  dishonor  mine 
by  taking  it." 

Lawrence  colored.  "You  must  have  stopped  at 
Colonel  Bell's  after  we  left,"  he  said.  "  All  is  fair, 
you  know,  in  time  of  war.  But  I  will  try  not  to 
transgress  again." 

"It  was  a  blame  sharp  trick,"  exclaimed  Ran- 
dolph. "  Who  personated  me  ?  " 

"  I  had  that  honor,"  said  Carl. 

"What!  a  German  personate  a  Hamilton?  That 
is  a  little  tough  on  me,  is  it  not,  Carl  ?  " 

"  Not  as  tough  as  it  was  on  me,"  answered  Carl. 


292  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

All  this  time  Benton  Shelley  had  stood  by  scowl- 
ing, not  saying  a  word,  his  hand  still  at  his  hip 
pocket. 

"These  fellows  are  spies,"  he  growled.  "Why 
not  give  the  alarm,  have  them  arrested  and  hanged 
as  they  ought  to  be? " 

"Softly,"  replied  Lawrence,  "this  city  has  been 
evacuated  by  the  State  forces.  If  any  are  spies  you 
are  the  ones.  It  will  be  good  for  your  health  to 
get  out  of  here  before  Lyon  comes." 

By  this  time  they  had  attracted  attention,  and  a 
crowd  began  to  gather.  A  policeman  put  in  an 
appearance,  and  ordered  the  crowd  to  disperse.  The 
city  authorities  did  not  wish  to  have  any  riot,  and 
Lyon  was  expected  any  moment.  Neither  did  Law- 
rence wish  to  have  attention  attracted  to  him. 

Edward,  Randolph,  and  Benton  held  a  consulta- 
tion, and  a  short  time  afterwards  were  seen  to  ride 
out  of  the  city.  After  they  had  left  Colonel  Bell's, 
they  had  heard  that  Jefferson  City  had  been  evacu- 
ated by  the  State  forces,  and  they  had  decided  to 
ride  into  the  city  and  spy  out  the  land.  But  after 
being  discovered  by  Lawrence,  they  concluded  it 
would  be  the  part  of  discretion  to  depart  before  Lyon 
came. 

As  for  Lawrence,  he  rejoiced  that  Guilford  was 
not  with  him.  Benton  might  have  seen  through  his 
disguise.  The  rest  of  the  day  and  night  passed 
quietly.  The  next  day  about  noon,  Guilford  Craig 


BOONVILLE  293 

came.  His  horse  showed  it  had  been  ridden  hard. 
To  the  question  as  to  where  he  had  been,  he  replied 
he  had  been  visiting  friends  in  the  country.  At  the 
first  opportunity  Lawrence  sought  a  private  inter- 
view with  him. 

"  It  is  all  right/'  he  told  Lawrence.  "  General 
Parsons  is  a  bully  fellow,  and  when  I  showed  him 
that  paper  of  General  Price's,  he  fell  all  over  him- 
self to  tell  me  all  he  knew.  He  has  about  a  thou- 
sand men,  and  has  orders  to  stop  at  Tipton,  and  to 
hold  his  command  in  readiness  to  march  to  Boon- 
ville,  if  Lyon  concludes  to  move  on  that  place  after 
he  occupies  Jefferson  City.  General  Price  is  not  at 
Boonville,  he  went  on  to  Lexington.  Governor 
Jackson  stopped  at  Boonville.  Marmaduke  is  there 
with  less  than  a  thousand  men.  If  Lyon  moves 
rapidly,  he  can  get  there  before  Parsons  possibly  can, 
and  capture  it  as  easy  as  shooting.  He  ought  to  be 
here  by  this  time." 

"Guilford,  you  are  a  wonder,"  said  Lawrence, 
"  but  I  tremble  when  I  think  of  the  risk  you  run." 

"  Pshaw !  "  replied  Guilford,  "  it 's  fun,  and  just 
think  of  the  excitement  I  am  having.  And  then  I 
am  out  for  revenge.  I  am  working  to  revenge  my 
poor  black  mammy.  I  hope  this  war  will  never  stop 
until  every  slave  is  free.  Lawrence,  you  have  no 
idea  of  the  impression  the  fate  of  poor  Hannah  had 
upon  me.  What  she  suffered  she  suffered  for  my 
sake.  I  can  never  forget  it." 


294  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

Lawrence  said  no  more.  He  saw  that  as  a  lonely, 
loveless  child,  he  had  brooded  over  the  fate  of  the 
black  woman  who  had  nursed  and  loved  him,  until 
it  had  become  a  monomania  with  him. 

Just  then  there  was  a  cry  raised  that  Lyon  was 
coming,  and  an  excited  throng  began  to  pour  down 
to  the  bank  of  the  river.  Down  the  river  hung  a 
great  cloud  of  smoke  pouring  from  the  stacks  of 
coming  steamboats.  Nearer  and  nearer  they  came, 
and  it  could  be  seen  that  their  decks  were  swarm- 
ing with  soldiers,  and  from  the  flagstaff  of  each 
waved  the  Stars  and  Strips.  And  there  were  hun- 
dreds in  that  crowd  who  saluted  the  flag  with  cheer 
after  cheer,  and  from  many  a  house  a  starry  flag 
which  had  been  concealed  was  brought  out  and  flung 
to  the  breeze, 

There  was  no  resistance,  and  the  soldiers  landed 
as  quietly  as  if  there  had  been  no  war.  The  South- 
ern men  who  had  not  fled,  prudently  kept  quiet. 
The  flag  of  the  Union  was  raised  over  the  capitol 
and  there  it  floated  never  to  come  down. 

Lawrence  and  Guilford  lost  no  time  in  reporting 
to  General  Lyon.  The  General  listened  to  what 
Guilford  had  to  say,  complimented  him  highly  on 
what  he  had  done,  saying  that  he  would  see  that  he 
was  properly  rewarded. 

With  General  Lyon  to  think  was  to  act.  Leaving 
a  few  hundred  men  to  garrison  Jefferson  City,  he 
at  once  made  preparations  to  ascend  the  river  to 


BOONVILLE  295 

Boonville.  If  the  nation  had  had  a  dozen  generals 
like  Lyon  the  war  would  not  have  lasted  a  year. 

When  Lawrence  and  his  party  went  to  get  their 
horses,  Guilford  told  Lawrence  he  was  not  going 
with  them.  Instead,  he  said,  he  was  going  to  Boon- 
ville by  land,  report  to  Governor  Jackson,  stay  until 
he  saw  Lyon  knock  tar  out  of  Marmaduke,  and  then 
go  to  Lexington.  "  And,  Lawrence,  I  want  you  to 
swap  horses  with  me,  mine  is  tired."  Lawrence 
did  so,  and  shook  hands  with  him  thinking  it  might 
be  for  the  last  time.  As  for  Guilford  he  rode  away 
perfectly  unconcerned.  "  Ta,  ta,"  he  said  to  Law- 
rence. "  Tell  General  Lyon  I  will  beat  him  to  Boon- 
ville."  And  he  did. 

Lyon  took  possession  of  Jefferson  City  on  the 
fifteenth  of  June,  only  four  days  after  his  meeting 
with  Jackson  and  Price  in  St.  Louis.  Is  it  any  won- 
der that  his  celerity  astonished  and  disconcerted  his 
enemies?  On  the  sixteenth  he  was  on  his  way  up 
the  river  to  Boonville  with  a  force  of  scarcely  seven- 
teen hundred  men.  Until  Guilford  reported  to  him, 
he  was  under  the  impression  he  would  have  to  fight 
at  Boonville  the  forces  of  both  Parsons  and  Marma- 
duke ;  but  if  Guilford  was  correct,  he  would  have  to 
fight  Marmaduke  only.  Even  if  his  foes  had  been 
twice  as  numerous,  he  would  not  have  hesitated. 

As  for  Guilford,  he  made  good  his  boast ;  he  rode 
into  Boonville  on  the  afternoon  of  the  sixteenth,  and 
reported  to  Governor  Jackson.  And  in  that  report 


296  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

he  showed  his  cunning.  He  reasoned  that  if  he 
reported  Lyon's  force  too  large,  Marmaduke  would 
retire  without  a  battle,  therefore  it  was  better  to 
tell  the  truth.  So  he  reported  that  Lyon  was  as- 
cending the  river  with  a  force  estimated  at  twelve 
hundred,  having  left  the  remainder  of  his  force  in 
Jefferson  City,  and  in  all  probability  he  would  be 
at  Boonville  during  the  coming  night,  or  early  the 
next  day. 

"So  soon?"  exclaimed  the  Governor,  much  per- 
turbed. 

"By  to-morrow,  at  the  farthest,"  replied 
Guilford. 

"That  Lyon  is  the  very  devil;  he  must  have 
wings !  "  said  the  Governor.  "  Oh,  that  Parsons  were 
here,  but  it  will  be  impossible  for  Parsons  to  be  here 
by  to-morrow.  Marmaduke,  you  must  try  and  hold 
him  off  until  Parsons  comes." 

"Governor,  I  can't  do  it,  even  if  he  has  only 
twelve  hundred  men,"  replied  Marmaduke.  "My 
advice  is  to  get  out  of  here,  and  that  quick." 

"  General,  it  will  not  do.  If  no  more,  you  must 
hold  him  until  I  can  remove  our  stores,  and  also  give 
all  citizens  who  wish  to  get  away,  an  opportunity  to 
da  so.  This  will  be  bitter  news  to  them,  they  ex- 
pect us  to  hold  the  place." 

"  I  will  do  all  mortal  man  can,"  replied  the  Gen- 
eral; "but  prepare  for  the  worst." 

This  conversation  filled   Guilford   with   delight. 


BOONVILLE  297 

He  fairly  chuckled  as  he  pictured  to  himself  Mar- 
maduke's  forces  flying  before  the  despised  Yankees. 

News  now  began  to  come  in  from  other  sources, 
that  Lyon  was  on  his  way  up  the  river.  Meantime 
it  began  to  be  rumored  through  the  city  that  it  might 
have  to  be  given  up,  and  the  excited  populace 
thronged  to  Governor  Jackson,  and  to  General  Mar- 
maduke,  to  ask  if  it  were  so.  They  were  told  to 
hope  for  the  best,  but  be  prepared  for  the  worst,  and 
if  they  did  not  wish  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the 
Yankees,  to  be  prepared  to  flee.  And  flee  many  of 
them  did;  they  could  imagine  nothing  worse  than 
to  fall  in  the  hands  of  the  dreaded  Yankees,  and 
Frank  Blair's  Dutch. 

On  the  morning  of  the  seventeenth,  Lyon  landed 
his  troops,  about  eight  miles  below  Boonville,  and 
moved  on  the  place  by  land.  With  a  faint  heart 
Marmaduke  marched  out  to  meet  him.  The  forces 
first  met  about  two  miles  out  of  the  city,  where, 
after  a  slight  resistance,  Marmaduke  fell  back  to  the 
edge  of  the  city,  where  he  made  a  more  determined 
stand.  But  Lyon's  men  made  a  charge  which  swept 
everything  before  them ;  the  State  troops  fled  wildly 
through  the  city  and  out  into  the  country,  and  the 
battle  was  over. 

Such  was  the  conflict  which  is  known  in  history 
as  the  battle  of  Boonville ;  but  in  reality  it  was  noth- 
ing but  a  skirmish,  and  a  small  one  at  that.  Lyon 
had  two  men  killed,  and  ten  wounded.  The  loss  of 


298  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

Marmaduke  was  the  same.  But  trifling  as  this  en- 
gagement was,  its  results  were  grand.  Afterwards 
great  battles  were  fought,  and  thousands  slain, 
where  the  results  were  not  so  far-reaching  as  were 
those  of  this  battle  of  Boonville.  In  fact,  it  was  a 
jnighty  victory  for  the  Union. 

Colonel  Thomas  L.  Snead,  General  Price's  Ad- 
jutant-general, in  speaking  of  Boonville  says: 

"  Insignificant  as  this  engagement  was,  in  a  mili- 
tary aspect,  it  was  in  fact  a  stunning  blow  to  the 
Southern  Rights  people  of  the  State,  and  one  which 
did  an  incalculable  and  unending  injury  to  the  Con- 
federates. It  was,  indeed,  the  consummation  of 
Blair's  statesmanlike  scheme  to  make  it  impossible 
for  Missouri  to  secede.  It  was  the  crowning  achieve- 
ment of  Lyon's  well-conceived  campaign.  It  made 
the  Missouri  River  an  unobstructed  Federal  high- 
way from  its  source  to  its  mouth,  and  made  it  impos- 
sible for  Price  to  hold  the  State/' 

Guilford  Craig  witnessed  the  conflict,  and  when 
he  saw  the  Confederates  in  disorganized  retreat  he 
could  hardly  refrain  from  shouting  for  joy.  "Vic- 
tory number  one,"  he  exclaimed  to  himself.  "  Now 
for  Lexington  and  Price,"  and  he  joined  in  the  dis- 
orderly retreat. 

Small  as  the  battle  was,  it  made  a  profound  im- 
pression on  Lawrence.  He  had  passed  through  ten- 
fold greater  danger  in  the  riots  which  followed  the 
capture  of  Camp  Jackson,  but  never  before  had  he 


BOONVILLE  299 

seen  hostile  lines  in  battle  array.  The  thunder  of 
the  cannon,  the  bursting  shells,  the  hum  of  the  Minie 
were  all  strange  music  to  him.  He  bore  himself  well, 
and  General  Lyon  complimented  him  on  his  cool- 
ness. The  victory  gave  Lyon's  troops  unbounded 
confidence  in  their  general,  and  they  were  ready  and 
eager  to  follow  him  anywhere  he  might  lead. 


CHAPTER  XXII 

THE  RACE  TO  SAVE  SIGEL 

AT  Lexington,  General  Price  found  several 
thousand  Confederates  who  had  rushed  there 
in  obedience  to  the  call  of  Governor  Jackson ; 
but  they  were  unorganized,  and  many  of  them  were 
without  arms.  Hardly  had  he  begun  to  bring  some- 
thing like  order  out  of  the  chaotic  mass,  when  Guil- 
ford  Craig  came  riding  into  camp  bringing  the  news 
of  the  capture  of  Boonville,  also  despatches  from 
Governor  Jackson  saying  he  was  in  full  flight  for  the 
southern  part  of  the  State,  and  requesting  the  Gen- 
eral to  meet  him  there. 

General  Price  saw  that  Lexington  must  be  given 
up.  Placing  all  the  troops  in  Lexington  and  vicinity 
in  command  of  General  Rains,  with  orders  to  move 
south  and  join  Governor  Jackson  at  Warsaw,  he 
took  a  small  escort  and  started  on  a  ride  of  nearly 
three  hundred  miles  to  northwest  Arkansas  to  ask 
General  McCulloch,  who  had  gathered  an  army 
there,  to  come  to  the  aid  of  Missouri,  and  help  to 
redeem  the  State. 

Before  starting  for  the  south,  General  Price 
warmly  thanked  Guilford  Craig  for  his  diligence, 
and  left  him  behind  to  watch  the  movements  of 

300 


THE  RACE  TO  SAVE  SIGEL  301 

Lyon,  and  to  report  to  General  Rains  or  Governor 
Jackson. 

In  a  few  days  after  the  capture  of  Boonville,  a 
young  man  was  sent  in  from  one  of  the  outposts, 
with  the  information  that  he  had  presented  himself 
to  the  guard,  and  asked  to  be  conducted  to  Lieuten- 
ant Middleton.  Lawrence  saw  it  was  Guilford  Craig 
in  his  disguise,  and  lost  no  time  in  conducting  him  to 
General  Lyon. 

It  was  news,  and  important  news,  to  Lyon  that 
General  Price  had  left  the  command  of  his  army  to 
General  Rains,  and  had  himself  gone  to  Arkansas, 
leaving  orders  for  Rains  to  evacuate  Lexington  and 
join  the  Governor  at  Warsaw.  Lyon  saw  how  im- 
portant it  was  that  he  should  strike  the  forces  under 
Rains  and  the  Governor,  before  they  could  get  out 
of  the  State.  At  the  beginning  of  the  campaign, 
Lyon  saw  that  if  he  drove  Price  from  the  Missouri 
River,  he  would  retreat  south,  and  for  that  reason 
had  divided  his  forces,  sending  half  of  them  into 
southwest  Missouri  under  Sigel.  The  column 
under  Sigel  left  St.  Louis  the  same  day  that  Lyon 
left  by  boat  for  Jefferson  City.  Sigel  went  by  rail- 
road as  far  as  Rolla,  one  hundred  and  twenty-five 
miles.  From  there  he  made  a  rapid  march  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five  miles  to  Springfield.  Leav- 
ing part  of  his  force  there,  he  pushed  on  to  Neosho, 
eighty  miles  farther,  with  the  remainder,  about  one 
thousand.  This  placed  Sigel  over  two  hundred  miles 


302  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

from  his  base  of  supplies  at  Rolla,  and  directly  in 
the  path  over  which  Governor  Jackson  would  have 
to  retreat. 

Hearing  that  Jackson  was  approaching  Carthage, 
Sigel  left  about  one  hundred  men  at  Neosho,  and 
marched  north  with  the  rest  of  his  force  to  meet 
Jackson.  Why  Sigel  left  these  few  men  at  Neosho 
is  past  finding  out.  He  had  not  been  gone  more 
than  twenty-four  hours,  before  this  single  company 
was  attacked  by  at  least  a  thousand  men,  and  forced 
to  surrender.  By  this  foolish  move,  Sigel  lost  a 
tenth  of  his  little  army ;  and  with  less  than  a  thou- 
sand men  he  met  Jackson  nine  miles  north  of  Car- 
thage. Jackson  had,  at  least,  five  thousand  men. 
The  fight  was  too  unequal;  Sigel  was  forced  to  re- 
treat, and  the  Federals  were  driven  back  through 
Carthage.  Sigel  was  now  in  a  precarious  situation. 
Before  him  was  Governor  Jackson  with  an  army 
of  thousands,  in  his  rear  were  Generals  Price  and 
McCulloch  with  an  army  five  times  as  numerous 
as  his  own ;  and  now  commenced  his  famous  retreat 
to  Springfield,  nearly  one  hundred  miles  away.  He 
kept  his  little  army  intact,  beat  back  every  attack 
of  the  enemy,  and  arrived  in  Springfield  in  safety. 

General  Lyon  at  Boonville,  knew  full  well  the 
value  of  time,  and  that  to  be  successful  he  must  fol- 
low closely  on  the  heels  of  Governor  Jackson  in  his 
retreat  south.  But  try  as  hard  as  he  might,  it  was 
the  third  of  July  before  he  could  get  transportation 


Guilford   Craig   came    riding   into   camp,  bringing  despatches 


THE  RACE  TO  SAVE  SIGEL  303 

and  supplies  to  move,  and  Jackson  was  a  full  week 
ahead  of  him.  He  left  Boonville  with  a  force  of  a 
little  over  two  thousand.  At  Clinton  he  was  joined 
by  Major  Sturgis  with  a  force  of  twenty-five  hun- 
dred, giving  him  an  army  of  forty-five  hundred. 

During  the  stop  at  Boonville,  Lawrence  organized 
a  splendid  scouting  force.  Most  of  them  had  seen 
service  on  the  plains,  and  nearly  one-half  had 
figured  in  the  Kansas  troubles.  Take  them  together 
they  were  a  bold,  reckless  set,  and  could  be  depended 
on  in  any  emergency. 

On  the  second  day's  march  from  Boonville,  Law- 
rence asked  permission  to  take  a  dozen  of  his  best 
scouts  and  try  to  locate  Jackson's  army,  going  as  far 
as  Springfield,  if  need  be.  With  a  dozen  of  his 
scouts,  Lawrence  thought  he  would  be  able  to  beat 
off  any  roving  band  of  the  enemy  he  might  fall  in 
with. 

General  Lyon  gave  him  permission,  and  Law- 
rence chose  a  dozen  of  his  best  men.  At  that  time, 
the  blue  had  not  been  adopted  by  all  Federal  soldiers, 
as  the  color  of  their  uniform.  The  color  of  the  uni- 
form of  the  First  Iowa  was  gray,  and  Lawrence 
chose  that  color  for  his  scouts,  so  that  if  need  be  they 
could  easily  pass  themselves  off  for  Confederate 
soldiers.  The  first  day  out  the  party  met  with  no 
adventures  of  any  moment.  They  fell  in  with  a  few 
small  parties  of  Confederates  who  claimed  they,  too, 
were  seeking  to  join  Jackson,  but  whom  Lawrence 


304  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

suspected  of  being  nothing  more  than  bands  of 
guerillas. 

On  the  second  day,  they  overtook  a  company  of 
nearly  thirty  men,  who  on  discovering  them,  fired 
a  scattering  volley,  and  took  to  the  woods.  Law- 
rence and  his  party  charged,  and  succeeded  in  cap- 
turing half  a  dozen  of  them.  Upon  questioning  his 
prisoners,  Lawrence  learned  that  instead  of  being 
Confederates,  they  were  a  company  of  Home 
Guards,  on  their  way  to  Springfield  to  join  a  regi- 
ment which  was  being  raised  there.  They  had 
taken  the  scouts  for  Confederates,  and  firing  one 
volley  had  scattered  like  sheep.  Lawrence  dryly 
remarked  that  if  all  Home  Guards  were  as  valiant 
as  they,  the  Confederates  had  little  to  fear.  The 
Guards  hung  their  heads,  but  excused  themselves 
by  saying  they  were  poorly  armed,  and  that  they 
had  no  idea  how  many  there  were  in  the  supposed 
party  of  Confederates.  Lawrence  learned  from 
them  that  Jackson  and  his  army  had  passed  some 
miles  west  and  were  now  well  on  their  way  south- 
wards. But  all  had  the  same  story  to  tell,  of  the 
atrocities  being  inflicted  on  the  Union  men.  No 
man's  life  was  safe  who  was  suspected  of  Union 
sentiments. 

Leaving  this  party  to  make  its  way  to  Springfield 
the  best  it  could,  Lawrence  rode  on  somewhat 
disturbed  over  what  he  had  heard.  If  Jackson 
was  as  far  ahead  of  Lyon  as  the  Home  Guards 


THE  RACE  TO  SAVE  SIGEL  305 

had  reported,  and  had  half  as  many  men,  Sigel  might 
be  having  trouble.  Therefore  Lawrence  pressed  on 
with  renewed  haste.  Along  in  the  afternoon  they 
'  came  to  a  hamlet,  and  soon  saw  that  something  un- 
usual was  going  on.  A  party  of  at  least  twenty 
rough-looking  men  were  gathered  around  an  individ- 
ual who  seemed  to  be  held  a  prisoner,  and  now  and 
then  Lawrence  thought  he  heard  an  agonized  cry  of 
a  woman.  But  he  did  not  have  long  to  wait  to 
know  what  it  meant,  for  no  sooner  was  the  approach 
of  the  scouts  discovered,  than  two  of  the  men  rode 
forward  to  meet  them. 

"  Halt ! "  cried  one  of  the  men.  "  One  of  you'ns 
ride  for'ard,  an'  tell  we'uns  who  you'ns  air." 

Lawrence  told  his  men  to  be  prepared  for  any 
emergency,  and  then  rode  forward  alone  to  meet  the 
men.  He  noticed  that  the  crowd  of  men  with  the 
exception  of  two  who  remained  guarding  the  pris- 
oner, had  scattered  to  their  horses,  which  were 
hitched  to  a  rude  railing  in  front  of  a  dilapidated- 
looking  store. 

."We  may  have  some  trouble/'  thought  Law- 
rence, but  he  rode  forward  as  if  perfectly  un- 
concerned. 

"  Well,  what  do  you  want,  and  why  did  you  halt 
us  ?  "  he  asked. 

"We'uns  want  to  know  who  you'ns  air,  an'  that 
quick,"  replied  the  man,  with  an  oath. 

"What  if  I  decline  to  tell?"  asked  Lawrence. 


306  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

The  man  tapped  the  butt  of  his  revolver.  "It 
will  be  the  wors'  for  you'ns,"  he  growled. 

"  That  is  a  game  two  can  play  at,"  laughed  Law- 
rence, "  but  whom  do  you  take  us  for  ?  " 

"  Don't  know.  You'ns  air  dressed  like  Confeds, 
but  you'ns  look  like  damn  Yanks." 

"  Are  you  Confed  or  Yank?  " 

"  Don't  insult  us,  stranger,  by  calling  us  Yanks." 

"  That  is  all  right,  don't  think  we  will  fight.  We 
are  from  St.  Louis,  and  are  on  our  way  to  Jackson's 
army,"  replied  Lawrence.  "  Glad  to  meet  you,  but 
what  is  the  excitement  ahead  ?  " 

"We'uns  have  jest  caught  a  Lincolnite,  and 
we'uns  air  goin'  to  hang  him." 

"  Good !  can't  you  let  us  in  to  see  the  fun  ?  " 

"  Sure,"  and  he  turned  around  and  waved  to  the 
crowd,  that  it  was  all  right. 

Lawrence  rode  back  to  his  scouts,  and  in  a  few 
words  told  them  what  was  up.  "  And,  boys,"  he 
added,  "  we  must  rescue  that  man.  Pretend  you  are 
greatly  interested  in  the  affair,  and  to  get  a  good 
view  ride  around  until  we  have  them  surrounded. 
There  are  not  over  twenty  of  them.  We  can  handle 
them.  Shoot  the  first  one  who  shows  resistance. 
Now  come  on." 

It  was  a  pathetic  scene  which  met  the  sight  of  the 
scouts.  Under  a  tree  with  a  rope  around  his  neck, 
stood  a  large  rough-looking  man,  with  his  hands 
bound  behind  him.  There  was  no  fear  in  his  face, 


THE  RACE  TO  SAVE  SIGEL  307 

but  he  stood  sullen  and  defiant  like  a  wild  beast  at 
bay.  At  the  feet  of  the  one  who  seemed  to  be  the 
leader  of  the  mob  knelt  a  woman,  and  a  girl  about 
twelve  years  of  age,  while  with  uplifted  hands,  and 
the  tears  running  down  their  cheeks,  they  were  pray- 
ing for  the  life  of  the  husband  and  father.  The 
man  answered  their  appeals  with  curses,  and 
shouted,  "  Take  an'  string  him  up,  boys,  we'uns  have 
had  enough  of  this  snivellinY'  The  prisoner  was 
roughly  seized  and  jerked  under  an  overhanging 
limb,  but  the  wife  sprang  to  her  feet,  and  with  a 
cry  of  agony,  threw  her  arms  around  her  husband, 
clinging  to  him  with  desperation.  It  took  two 
strong  men  to  unclasp  her  grasp,  and  then  they  flung 
her  backwards  with  such  force  that  she  fell  and  lay 
stunned  on  the  ground. 

The  effect  on  the  prisoner  was  terrible.  His  face 
flamed  with  the  passions  of  a  demon.  With  a 
mighty  effort  he  wrenched  himself  loose  from  those 
who  held  him,  and  springing  forward,  planted  a 
kick  in  the  stomach  of  one  of  the  ruffians  which 
doubled  him  up  like  a  jack-knife,  and  he  lay  still 
and  white  on  the  ground. 

"  Look !  See !  He  has  killed  Jake,"  shouted  the 
leader.  "  Seize  him !  String  him  up !  Hold  the  wo- 
man ;  make  her  look  at  him  while  he  kicks  the  air." 

Half  a  dozen  men  sprang  forward  to  do  the  bid- 
ding of  their  leader.  The  prisoner's  hands  being 
bound,  he  could  do  little  to  resist. 


308  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

This  diversion  gave  Lawrence  the  opportunity 
he  was  looking  for.  All  the  Confederates  had  left 
their  horses  and  were  crowding  around  their  vic- 
tim. At  a  sign  from  Lawrence  the  scouts,  as  if 
seeking  a  point  of  advantage  to  see  the  execution, 
surrounded  the  gang. 

"  Swing  him  up,"  shouted  the  leader,  as  the  rope 
around  the  man's  neck  was  thrown  over  a  pro- 
jecting limb.  Half  a  dozen  strong  hands  seized  the 
rope. 

"Hold!"  cried  Lawrence  in  a  voice  of  thunder. 
"  Hands  up,  every  one." 

The  would-be  murderers  looked  up  in  amaze- 
ment. Around  them  on  their  horses  sat  twelve  men, 
in  the  hand  of  each  a  cocked  revolver. 

"Hands  up!"  again  commanded  Lawrence. 
"  Boys,  shoot  the  first  one  who  reaches  for  a 
weapon." 

The  leader  of  the  gang  failed  to  obey.  The  re- 
volver in  the  hand  of  Dan  Sherman  cracked,  and 
the  leader  fell  dead  with  a  ball  through  the  brain. 
The  rest  of  the  party  put  their  hands  up  in  a  hurry. 

"Thunderation!  Yanks  after  all,"  muttered  the 
fellow  who  had  ridden  out  to  meet  Lawrence.  "  I 
might  have  knowed  it." 

As  for  the  prisoner  and  his  wife  and  daughter, 
they  stood  for  a  time  as  if  rooted  to  the  ground. 
The  wife  was  the  first  to  comprehend  what  had  hap- 


THE  RACE  TO  SAVE  SIGEL  309 

pcned.  With  a  wild  cry  of  joy,  she  threw  her  arms 
around  her  husband,  and  sobbed.  "  Saved !  Saved !  " 

"  Line  up  here,"  commanded  Lawrence  of  his 
prisoners,  and  they  formed  in  line.  There  were  nine- 
teen of  them.  The  one  who  had  been  kicked  had 
recovered  consciousness,  but  lay  on  the  ground  moan- 
ing. "  Boys,  keep  them  covered/'  said  Lawrence, 
"  while  I  see  to  the  man  they  were  to  hang ;  and 
you,  Dan,  see  to  their  arms/' 

The  cords  which  bound  the  wrists  of  the  man 
were  cut,  and  the  rope  was  rerrpved  from  around 
his  neck,  but  he  still  stood  as  in  a  daze.  The  bitter- 
ness and  fear  of  death  had  been  his,  and  he  could 
not  realize  that  the  grim  monster  had  been  cheated 
of  his  prey.  But  the  wife  did,  and  she  nearly  smoth- 
ered Lawrence  with  her  embraces.  "  God  only  can 
reward  you/'  she  exclaimed,  her  tears  falling  like 
rain.  Then  turning  to  her  husband,  she  cried,  "  Jim, 
Jim,  why  don't  you'ns  thank  this  gentleman? 
Thank  them  all!" 

The  man  brushed  his  hand  before  his  eyes,  as  if 
sweeping  away  a  mist,  and  then  felt  of  his  neck. 

'  That  rope,"  he  exclaimed,  "  that  rope,  it  burned 
like  fire." 

"It  will  trouble  you  no  more,"  said  Lawrence. 
"•It  gives  me  pleasure  to  present  you  alive  and  well 
to  your  wife  and  daughter." 

The  man  now  began  to  comprehend  he  was  saved, 


310  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

and  was  in  'his  way  as  profuse  in  his  thanks  as  his 
wife  and  child  had  been. 

In  the  meantime  Dan  Sherman  had  been  remov- 
ing the  arms  of  the  prisoners,  and  a  goodly  assort- 
ment he  had  when  through.  How  to  dispose  of  the 
arms  was  the  next  question.  A  well  was  discovered, 
and  into  this  the  arms  were  thrown,  and  several 
large  rocks  rolled  in  on  top  of  them.  "  I  reckon/' 
said  Dan,  "  them  rocks  will  hold  them  down." 

The  man  who  had  come  so  near  to  being  hanged 
now  told  his  story.  His  name  was  James  Ferguson. 
Several  of  his  Union  neighbors  had  been  driven 
from  their  homes,  but  he  had  resolved  to  stick.  Be- 
ing known  as  a  man  of  courage,  for  some  time  he 
was  let  alone,  but  the  previous  day  he  was  way- 
laid, and  in  beating  off  his  assailants,  killed  one  of 
them.  He  then  knew  that  his  only  safety  lay  in 
flight,  but  his  foes  surprised  him  as  he  was  saddling 
his  horse, 

"That,"  said  he,  "was  last  night.  They  burned 
my  cabin,  drove  off  my  stock,  and  left  my  wife  an' 
little  gal  with  only  the  clothes  they  had  on.  They 
followed  me  here,  as  you  see." 

"And  what  will  you  do  now?"  asked  Lawrence. 

"Go  with  you'ns  if  you'ns  will  let  me." 

"But  your  wife  and  daughter,  what  of  them?" 

"Let  them  go  too,  as  far  as  Springfield.  I  will 
see  them  safe,  and  then  go  in  the  army." 


THE  RACE  TO  SAVE  SIGEL  311 

"  Can  your  wife  and  daughter  ride  ? "  asked 
Lawrence. 

"  Ride,  stranger/'  replied  the  man,  "  they  will  ride 
as  hard  and  as  far  as  any  of  you'ns." 

"Then,"  said  Lawrence,  "pick  out  three  of  the 
best  horses  hitched  here,  and  come  along." 

The  question  now  arose  what  to  do  with  the  pris- 
oners. It  was  impossible  to  take  them  along,  so  they 
were  paroled  and  let  go. 

"  I  ought  to  hang  every  blessed  one  of  you,"  said 
Lawrence,  "  and  if  I  hear  of  any  more  of  your  devil- 
try, I  will  come  back  and  do  it." 

Their  surly  and  revengeful  looks  showed  they 
would  be  good  until  their  captors  got  out  of  sight, 
and  no  longer. 

More  than  an  hour  had  been  lost  by  the  scouts, 
and  they  now  rode  rapidly  forward.  Some  five  or 
six  miles  had  been  passed,  when  a  lone  horseman 
appeared  in  front  riding  rapidly  toward  them. 
When  he  noticed  the  scouts,  he  drew  rein  and  care- 
fully scrutinized  them,  then  came  leisurely  on. 
When  he  drew  near  Lawrence  saw  to  his  amaze- 
ment that  it  was  Guilford  Craig.  The  horse  he  was 
on  was  white  with  foam,  and  showed  it  had  been 
ridden  hard.  Lawrence  was  about  to  speak  his 
name,  when  a  sign  from  Guilford  showed  that  he 
did  not  wish  to  be  known,  so  Lawrence  spoke  to 
him  as  a  stranger. 


312  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

"  Where  now,  my  friend  ?  You  seem  to  be  in  a 
hurry,"  said  Lawrence. 

"I  am/'  was  the  answer,  "please  let  me  pass  in 
peace." 

"  Sorry,  but  I  will  have  to  interview  you  first/'  re- 
plied Lawrence. 

"  Then  let  me  speak  to  you  in  private/'  answered 
Guilford. 

They  rode  to  one  side,  and  then  Guilford  told 
Lawrence  that  the  forces  of  Governor  Jackson  had 
met  Sigel  near  Carthage,  defeated  him,  and  that 
Sigel  was  in  the  greatest  danger  of  losing  his  entire 
force. 

The  news  astonished  Lawrence.  Sigel  defeated, 
and  Lyon  miles  away!  Lawrence  groaned  as  he 
thought  of  what  might  be  the  consequences. 

"I  am  carrying  despatches  back  for  Governor 
Jackson,"  continued  Guilford,  "to  prominent  seces- 
sionists at  Lexington  and  Boonville.  But  I  must 
first  find  Lyon,  and  let  him  read  the  despatches." 

Lawrence  was  at  first  puzzled  as  to  what  he  had 
best  do,  ride  on  and  find  out  the  fate  of  Sigel,  or 
escort  Guilford  back  to  Lyon,  ostensibly  a  prisoner. 

"  Go  on,  by  all  means,"  said  Guilford,  "  you  may 
be  of  some  help  to  Sigel.  Do  not  fear  for  me.  I 
shall  be  much  safer,  and  make  better  time  alone." 

Lawrence  thought  so,  but  told  him  what  had  hap- 
pened a  few  miles  back,  and  said  that  some  of  the 
crowd  might  be  at  the  hamlet  and  make  him  trouble. 


THE  RACE  TO  SAVE  SIGEL  313 

"  I  do  not  fear  them/'  replied  Guilford,  "  I  have 
papers  from  Governor  Jackson  that  will  pass  me 
anywhere  where  his  name  is  honored/' 

"  All  right,"  said  Lawrence,  "  I  will  go  on,  but 
for  the  love  of  Heaven,  get  to  Lyon  as  quick  as  you 
can." 

"That  I  will,  and  you  get  to  Sigel.    Good-bye." 

"  It  is  all  right,  boys,  let  him  pass,"  said  Lawrence. 

Dan  Sherman  took  a  chew  of  tobacco,  and  looking 
after  Guilford,  said:  "If  that  young  fellow  had  a 
mustache  and  curly  hair,  I  would  swear  it  was  Char- 
ley Morris,  the  one  who  put  the  joke  up  on  Colonel 
Bell.  Say,  Lieutenant,  what  became  of  Morris  ?  He 
was  as  sharp  as  lightning." 

"Oh,  Lyon  kept  him,"  answered  Lawrence. 
"  But,  boys,  that  fellow  told  me  some  bad  news." 

"  What 's  that?  "  they  all  asked. 

"That  the  forces  under  Governor  Jackson  met 
Sigel  near  Carthage,  defeated  him,  and  that  Sigel's 
entire  force  is  in  danger  of  capture." 

"The  devil,"  was  the  profane  reply.  "What 
are  you  going  to  do  now,  Lieutenant?" 

"  Ride  on  and  do  what  we  can  to  help  Sigel." 

"  Hurrah ! "  they  shouted.  "  We  are  with  you, 
Lieutenant.  We  are  good  for  any  hundred  of  Jack- 
son's ragamuffins,"  and  they  rode  on,  eager  for  what 
was  ahead. 

When  Guilford  Craig  was  out  of  sight  and  hear- 
ing of  Lawrence  and  his  party,  he  halted,  dismounted, 


314  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

hung  his  hat  on  a  bush,  stepped  back  a  few  feet,  and 
fired  a  ball  through  the  crown.  He  looked  at  the 
hole  critically,  and  said :  "  All  right.  No  burnt- 
powder  stains  there/'  and  remounting,  rode  on. 
When  he  reached  the  hamlet  where  Lawrence  had 
rescued  Ferguson,  he  found  that  the  crowd  instead 
of  diminishing  had  been  augmented.  The  man  that 
Ferguson  had  kicked  was  said  to  be  dying,  and  the 
greatest  excitement  prevailed.  Terrible  imprecations 
were  being  heaped  upon  the  heads  of  the  Yankees, 
and  so  high  did  the  feeling  run,  that  the  one  who  had 
ridden  out  to  meet  Lawrence  and  reported  the  party 
all  right  was  threatened  with  the  same  fate  which 
they  had  intended  to  mete  out  to  Ferguson. 

No  sooner  did  Guilford  Craig  appear,  than  he  was 
surrounded.  Who  was  he?  Where  did  he  come 
from  ?  Where  was  he  going  ?  Did  he  meet  a  party 
of  Yanks? 

"  One  question  at  a  time,  gentlemen,"  said  Guil- 
ford. "I  am  a  messenger  from  Governor  Jack- 
son bearing  good  news.  He  met  the  Dutch  General, 
Sigel,  at  Carthage  the  other  day  and  whipped  him 
blind." 

"  Hurrah !  "  shouted  the  crowd,  "  but  did  you  meet 
any  Yankees?  " 

"Yes,  about  an  hour  or  two  ago.  Took  them 
for  our  fellows  at  first,  and  they  nearly  got  me. 
Escaped  by  jumping  my  horse  over  a  fence.  Look 
here/'  and  he  took  off  his  hat,  and  showed  them. 


THE  RACE  TO  SAVE  SIGEL  315 

"Close  call  that/'  said  one,  "but  not  as  close  as 
poor  Duncan  got.  They  took  him  plumb  between 
the  eyes."  And  then  Guilford  had  to  listen  to  the 
story  of  the  rescue  of  Ferguson. 

"Blame  cute  trick,"  said  Guilford.  "You  will 
have  to  look  sharp  when  Yankees  are  around.  Won- 
der what  those  fellows  could  be  doing.  Lyon  can't 
be  far  off." 

"  What !    Lyon  coming  this  way !  "  they  shouted. 

"  Yes,  and  if  he  does,  you  fellows  had  better  look 
a  little  out.  But  I  must  be  going.  Say,  don't  some 
of  you  fellows  want  to  swap  horses  with  me?  My 
horse  is  a  good  one,  but  he  is  tired  out.  Jackson 
told  me  to  kill  half  a  dozen  horses  if  I  wanted  to, 
but  get  to  Lexington." 

A  horse  trade  appealed  to  them,  and  one  fellow 
looking  over  Guilford's  horse  carefully,  reckoned  he 
would  trade.  "  My  hoss  is  n't  as  good  a  looker  as 
you'ns,"  he  remarked,  "but  he  is  a  goer." 

Guilford  traded  and  found  that  the  horse  was  a 
vicious  brute,  but  as  tough  as  a  knot,  and  that  was 
what  he  wanted.  He  rode  on  through  the  remainder 
of  the  day  and  through  the  night,  taking  no  rest 
until  he  reached  the  outposts  of  Lyon  near 
Osceola.  Between  him  and  Lyon  lay  the  swollen 
Osage  River.  Leaving  his  horse,  he  assumed  his 
disguise,  whereupon  Guilford  Craig  disappeared,  and 
Charles  Morris  appeared  on  the  scene. 

Securing  a  skiff,  he  crossed  the  river,  and  was 


316  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

soon  closeted  with  the  General.  Lyon  was 
astounded  at  the  news  of  Sigel's  defeat.  He  now 
saw  that  all  hopes  of  capturing  Jackson  and  his 
army  had  vanished.  It  must  have  been  a  crushing 
blow  to  him,  but  he  made  no  complaint,  found  no 
fault.  He  only  said,  "  I  must  save  Sigel !  I  must 
save  Sigel ! " 

He  then  read  the  despatches  which  Guilford  had 
brought  from  Governor  Jackson.  His  brow  clouded 
as  he  read,  for  the  despatches  showed  that  some  who 
stood  high  up,  and  posed  as  Union  men,  were  in 
reality  traitors.  He '  read  all  the  despatches  care- 
fully, took  notes,  then  resealing  them,  handed  them 
back  to  Guilford. 

"  Deliver  them  as  Jackson  ordered/'  he  said. 
"You  must  do  nothing  to  arouse  suspicion.  Now 
that  I  know  what  is  in  them,  they  can  do  little  harm/' 

The  next  day  Charles  Morris  had  disappeared, 
and  Guilford  Craig  was  on  his  way  to  Lexington  as 
a  Confederate  messenger.  As  for  Lyon,  his  one  de- 
sire was  to  save  Sigel.  He  had  to  cross  the  swollen 
Osage  River  by  ferry,  and  it  took  him  a  whole  day 
to  do  it.  But  by  the  morning  of  July  n,  his  whole 
force  was  across,  and  he  started  for  Springfield, 
eighty  miles  away. 

All  through  that  hot  July  day,  they  marched. 
The  burning  sun  beat  down  upon  them,  but  there 
was  no  stop,  no  stay.  Evening  came,  and  they 
halted.  A  hurried  cup  of  coffee  was  made,  the 


THE  RACE  TO  SAVE  SIGEL  317 

bacon  broiled  on  the  end  of  a  stick, — this  and  hard 
crackers  was  their  meal.  Then  on  through  the  night 
they  marched,  and  when  morning  came,  they  were 
fifty  miles  from  where  they  started.  Fifty  miles  in 
twenty-four  hours  did  those  boys  fresh  from  the 
fields  of  Kansas,  Iowa,  and  Missouri  march  under 
the  burning  sun  and  through  the  darkness  of  the 
night,  that  Sigel  might  be  saved.  It  was  a  feat 
hardly  ever  equalled  in  military  annals.  Oh,  that 
the  Union  had  had  more  Generals  like  Lyon,  more 
soldiers  like  those  who  marched  with  him ! 

They  were  now  within  thirty  miles  of  Springfield. 
But  here  they  were  met  by  Lawrence  who  had  has- 
tened back,  bringing  the  word  that  Sigel  was  safe. 
The  army  now  moved  more  slowly  and  by  the  thir- 
teenth was  in  Springfield.  But  Price  and  Jackson 
had  escaped,  and  along  the  Arkansas  border  a  mighty 
army  was  gathering  to  crush  Lyon ;  and  a  great  na- 
tion was  doing  nothing  to  help. 


CHAPTER  XXIII 

WILSON  CREEK 

THE  entire  force  which  Lyon  could  muster  at 
Springfield  did  not  much  exceed  six  thou- 
sand, and  of  these  not  over  five  thousand 
were  effective.  Gathering  to  oppose  him  was  an 
army  variously  estimated  at  from  fifteen  to  twenty 
thousand.  Lyon  saw  that  he  would  have  to  be  re- 
inforced, if  he  held  Springfield.  To  give  it  up  would 
be  to  relinquish  the  whole  of  southwest  Missouri  to 
the  enemy,  therefore  he  made  an  urgent  appeal  for 
reinforcements. 

A  change  had  taken  place  in  the  Commander  of 
the  Department  of  the  West.  Instead  of  appoint- 
ing General  Lyon,  as  was  his  due,  the  War  Depart- 
ment appointed  General  John  C.  Fremont.  Fremont 
had  been  the  Republican  nominee  for  President  in 
1856,  and  was  the  idol  of  the  radical  wing  of  the 
Republican  party.  The  appointment  was  more  politi- 
cal than  military,  but  Fremont's  friends  predicted 
great  things  of  him,  and  looked  upon  him  as  the 
coming  general. 

After  receiving  the  appointment,  Fremont  lin- 
gered for  some  days  in  New  York,  and  to  Lyon's  ap- 
peals for  reinforcements  gave  little  heed.  He  did  not 
come  to  St.  Louis  until  he  was  peremptorily  ordered 

318 


WILSON  CREEK  319 

to  do  so  by  General  Scott.  He  reached  St.  Louis  on 
the  twenty-fifth  of  July  and  found  a  task  before  him 
which  he  little  understood,  and  which  called  for  the 
highest  military  genius.  The  disloyal  sentiment 
which  he  found  in  St.  Louis  appalled  him.  Fearing 
for  his  own  safety,  he  proceeded  to  protect  himself 
by  organizing  a  bodyguard  of  one  hundred  men.  It 
was  composed  of  stalwart  men  mounted  on  power- 
ful horses,  and  their  uniforms  were  gorgeous  to  be- 
hold, equal  to  a  troop  of  drum-majors.  But  they 
were  brave  men,  all  the  same,  and  afterwards  won 
imperishable  honor  by  their  charge  at  Springfield. 

Fremont  now  promised  to  send  Lyon  five  thou- 
sand men.  Had  he  done  so  history  would  have  read 
differently,  but  he  failed  to  keep  his  promise.  There 
were  soldiers  in  St.  Louis  who  could  have  been 
spared.  There  were  no  Confederate  troops  of  any 
great  number  within  hundreds  of  miles  of  the  place, 
but  Fremont  conceived  the  idea  that  the  city  was 
in  danger,  and  planned  an  expedition  down  the  Mis- 
sissippi. Lyon  was  left  to  his  fate ;  his  appeal  for  re- 
inforcement unheeded. 

For  Lyon  to  give  up  what  he  had  won  would 
be  to  give  Missouri  back  to  Jackson  and  Price;  he 
could  not  do  it ;  he  would  stay  and  fight,  if  need  be 
he  would  die. 

When  Fremont  heard  that  Lyon  would  stay  and 
fight,  he  coolly  remarked :  "If  he  fights  he  will  do 
it  upon  his  own  responsibility." 


320  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

Oh,  the  injustice  of  it!  Never  was  so  heroic  a 
general  left  so  coolly  to  his  fate. 

After  the  defeat  of  Sigel  at  Carthage,  Price  and 
McCulloch  joined  forces,  and  made  preparations  to 
advance  on  Springfield.  Their  forces  were  being 
continually  augmented  by  recruits  from  Missouri 
and  Arkansas,  while  Lyon's  army  from  sickness  and 
hardships  was  growing  weaker.  The  Confederate 
generals  knew  these  facts,  and  expected  an  easy 
victory. 

It  was  a  busy  time  with  Lawrence  and  his  scouts 
while  Lyon  lay  at  Springfield.  There  was  hardly  a 
day  but  they  came  in  collision  with  scouts  from 
Price's  army,  and  from  their  daring  and  marksman- 
ship, they  came  more  to  be  feared  than  a  regiment 
of  cavalry.  So  closely  did  they  guard  Springfield, 
that  General  Price  complained  that  even  his  scouts 
and  spies  could  bring  him  no  information  as  to  the 
movements  of  Lyon.  "  I  cannot  even  find  out,"  he 
exclaimed,  "  whether  he  has  fortified  Springfield  or 
not." 

Even  Guilford  Craig,  who  had  returned  from  his 
northern  trip,  and  of  whom  General  Price  hoped 
great  things,  reported  that  he  had  been  unable  to 
get  into  Springfield.  But  Guilford  did  not  want  to 
get  into  Springfield.  If  he  had,  he  would  have  been 
obliged  to  make  some  kind  of  a  report.  But  he  had 
met  Lawrence  more  than  once,  and  through  him 
was  enabled  to  inform  Lyon  of  every  movement  of 


WILSON  CREEK  3S1 

the  Confederates.  He  reported  that  the  combined 
strength  of  the  Confederates  was  about  twenty  thou- 
sand, but  that  not  more  than  twelve  or  fifteen  thou- 
sand were  effective,  and  that  McCulloch  and  Price 
were  quarrelling  as  to  who  should  have  supreme 
command. 

The  last  of  July  Lawrence  reported  that  the  Con- 
federates had  begun  their  forward  movement,  and 
were  advancing  in  three  different  columns.  Lyon 
resolved  to  march  out  and  strike  the  columns  in  de- 
tail. His  advance  struck  the  brigade  of  General 
Rains  at  Dug  Springs,  some  twenty-two  miles  out 
of  Springfield.  It  was  not  a  fight,  but  a  foot  race, 
Rains's  men  fleeing  in  the  wildest  confusion.  The 
Confederates  took  the  alarm,  and  rapidly  concen- 
trated their  forces.  Lyon,  not  wishing  to  fight  a 
general  battle  so  far  from  Springfield,  returned. 
The  enemy  now  slowly  advanced,  until  within  ten 
miles  of  Springfield.  Lyon  now  concluded  to  stake 
all  on  a  battle. 

During  these  trying  days,  Lawrence  saw  that  the 
nervous  strain  was  telling  on  his  beloved  comman- 
der; he  was  growing  thinner,  and  slept  little.  He 
had  now  given  up  all  hopes  of  receiving  reinforce- 
ment. He  now  must  fight  or  retreat,  and  he  resolved 
to  fight.  Lawrence  always  thought  that  Lyon  felt 
that  he  was  going  to  his  death,  that  the  country  he 
had  served  so  faithfully  had  deserted  him  in  his 
hour  of  extremity.  But  he  uttered  no  complaint. 


322  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

Death  to  him  was  sweeter  than  flight.  He  knew 
that  if  he  retreated,  all  Missouri  would  be  lost 
with  the  exception  of  St.  Louis.  It  was  better  for 
him  to  die,  that  the  State  might  be  saved. 

On  the  ninth  of  August,  during  a  scout,  Law- 
rence met  a  small  party  of  Confederates  and  put 
them  to  flight.  One  of  them  lingered  a  little  longer 
than  the  rest,  before  he  wheeled  his  horse  to  retreat, 
and  as  if  by  accident,  he  dropped  a  paper.  Law- 
rence was  almost  sure  it  was  Guilford  Craig.  He 
secured  the  paper  —  it  was  but  a  scrap  —  and  read : 
"  I  dare  not  meet  you.  You  will  be  attacked  to-mor- 
row." It  was  not  much,  but  it  was  enough.  Swiftly 
Lawrence  rode  back  to  Lyon  with  the  news.  The 
General  smiled  grimly,  and  said :  "  I  will  save  them 
the  trouble,  I  will  do  the  attacking." 

Lyon's  plans  were  well  arranged.  He  was  to  give 
battle  with  the  main  body  of  his  troops,  while  Sigel 
with  twelve  hundred  men  was  to  make  a  detour,  and 
fall  upon  the  flank  and  rear  of  the  enemy. 

The  Confederates  had  no  idea  that  Lyon  would 
advance  to  meet  them,  and  that  night  slept  in  fan- 
cied security.  But  at  sunrise  the  next  morning  Lyon 
was  on  them.  Sigel's  movement  at  first  was  a  per- 
fect success.  He  struck  their  camp  in  the  rear  of 
the  Confederate  army  at  dawn,  driving  the  surprised 
inmates  out  in  the  wildest  confusion.  Discipline 
seemed  now  to  be  at  an  end  in  Sigel's  command. 
Many  of  his  men  left  the  ranks  to  plunder  the  cap- 


WILSON  CREEK  323 

tured  camps.  He  saw  the  enemy  forming  to  attack 
him,  and  made  preparations  to  meet  them.  A  gray- 
coated  regiment  burst  out  of  the  thicket  in  his  front. 

"  Don't  fire!  don't  fire!  "  was  the  cry,  "  it  is  the 
First  Iowa ! " 

In  a  moment,  the  Third  Louisiana,  for  it  was  that 
regiment,  was  upon  them,  firing  into  their  faces. 
The  effect  was  indescribable.  A  panic  seized  Sigel's 
men;  all  discipline  was  lost.  There  was  no  effort 
made  to  rally  the  men.  The  Texas  cavalry  fol- 
lowed them  cutting  them  down  as  they  fled.  Sigel 
himself  reached  Springfield  before  the  battle  ended, 
accompanied  by  only  one  orderly.  Although  his  men 
had  to  retreat  directly  behind  Lyon's  force,  not  a 
man  of  them  came  to  help  him.  Lyon  had  to  fight 
the  battle  alone,  and  there  with  three  thousand,  five 
hundred  men,  on  Bloody  Hill  he  put  up  such  a  battle 
as  was  never  before  fought  on  this  continent.  There 
amid  the  tangled  thickets  was  fought  a  battle,  by 
raw  troops,  on  both  sides,  that  the  veterans  of  Na- 
poleon never  excelled.  It  was  a  battle  which  tells 
in  letters  of  living  light  of  the  valor  of  the  American 
soldier. 

Where  the  battle  raged  the  fiercest,  there  was 
Lyon  cheering  on  his  men.  Again  and  again  did 
the  Confederates'  thousands  hurl  themselves  against 
his  thin  lines,  only  to  be  flung  back  bleeding  and 
torn.  Amid  the  thick  underbrush  the  opposing 
forces  were  often  only  a  few  yards  apart,  and  they 


324  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

poured  their  fire  almost  into  each  other's  faces.  In 
the  darkened  woods  there  were  death  grapples  and 
deeds  of  valor  of  which  the  world  never  heard. 
Sometimes  the  lines  would  swing  apart,  and  the 
thickets  would  hide  the  combatants  from  each  other, 
and  the  field  would  become  strangely  silent.  These 
periods  of  silence  were  harder  to  bear  than  the  roar 
of  the  conflict.  Then  suddenly  the  thickets  would 
again  burst  into  flame  and  smoke,  and  the  struggle 
would  be  renewed. 

During  these  hours  of  carnage,  Lawrence  was 
everywhere  in  the  thickest  of  the  fray,  carrying  the 
orders  of  his  beloved  chieftain,  cheering  on  the  wav- 
ering, turning  back  the  skulker.  Already  he  had 
had  two  horses  shot  under  him.  He  had  just  re- 
ported that  Plummer  had  been  driven  back,  when 
large  masses  of  the  enemy  burst  out  of  the  thicket, 
and  came  on  a  charge.  The  only  troops  available 
to  oppose  them  were  the  First  Iowa. 

"  Come  on,  boys !  I  will  lead  you,"  shouted  Lyon, 
and  dashing  to  the  front,  he  took  off  his  hat,  and 
swinging  it  over  his  head,  cheered  them  on.  Close 
by  his  side  rode  Lawrence.  With  a  mighty  shout  the 
regiment  sprang  forward,  and  the  enemy  recoiled 
before  them;  but  Lawrence  saw  the  General  reel 
in  his  saddle,  and  sprang  from  his  horse  just  in  time 
to  receive  him  in  his  arms  as  he  fell.  Gently  he  laid 
him1  down,  but  the  brave  spirit  had  already  fled  — 
General  Lyon  had  been  shot  through  the  heart.  The 


1 


WILSON  CREEK  325 

tears  gushed  from  Lawrence's  eyes,  as  he  gazed  into 
the  face  now  so  peaceful  in  death. 

Just  then  Carl  Mayer  came  along,  his  right  arm 
broken.  He  reported  every  officer  in  his  company 
killed  or  disabled,  and  nearly  half  of  the  regiment 
gone.*  Mayor  Schofield,  Lyon's  Chief  of  Staff,  now 
rode  up,  and  gazed  on  the  dead  face  of  his  General 
with  tear-dimmed  eyes. 

"  I  will  go  to  the  company,"  said  Lawrence  to 
Carl,  "  I  can  now  do  no  good  here." 

The  company  received  Lawrence  with  a  cheer. 
"  We  '11  get  'em  yet !  "  shouted  a  powder-begrimed 
youth,  whom  Lawrence  recognized  as  a  quiet  school- 
boy he  had  known  in  St.  Louis.  But  that  schoolboy 
had  in  him  the  heart  of  a  hero.  The  enemy  were 
forming  for  their  last  desperate  effort.  On  they 
came  with  that  peculiar  cheer,  afterwards  known  as 
the  "Rebel  yell." 

On,  on  they  came  until  their  breasts  almost 
touched  the  muzzles  of  the  First  Missouri's  guns. 
Then,  they  wavered,  halted,  their  lines  quivering  like 
the  giant  branches  of  a  tree  in  a  storm. 

"  They  break ;  they  run ! "  shouted  Lawrence, 
"  Charge!" 

Right  on  their  line  rode  Lawrence.  His  horse 
fell  dead.  Springing  to  his  feet,  he  drew  his  sword, 
and  pressed  on.  In  front  of  him  was  a  young  Con- 

*The  First  Missouri  lost  three  hundred  in  this  battle ;  the 
First  Kansas  nearly  as  many;  and  the  First  Iowa  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty-four. 


326  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

federate  officer  imploring  his  men  not  to  give  way. 
A  soldier  who  had  fought  his  way  to  Lawrence's 
side,  lunged  at  the  officer  with  his  bayonet.  The 
officer  beat  down  the  gun  with  a  blow  of  his  sword, 
but  the  weapon  broke  at  the  hilt,  and  he  stood  de- 
fenceless. Again  the  soldier  raised  his  gun  to  lunge. 
Lawrence  to  his  horror  saw  that  the  young  officer 
was  none  other  than  his  cousin.  With  a  cry  he 
sprang  forward,  and  beat  down  the  gun  with  his 
sword,  just  as  the  bayonet  touched  Edward's  breast. 

At  this  moment  a  squad  of  Confederates  had 
rallied,  and  were  rushing  to  the  relief  of  their  officer. 
At  their  head  was  Benton  Shelley.  He  recognized 
Lawrence,  and  a  look  of  joy  came  over  his  face, 
as  he  shouted,  "  At  last  we  have  met,  renegade/' 
and,  raising  his  revolver,  fired.  Lawrence  pitched 
forward  on  his  face,  and  a  moment  later,  the  brave 
soldier  who  had  stood  by  his  side,  fell  across  him 
dead. 

Seeing  Lawrence  fall,  his  men  rushed  forward, 
and  the  Confederates  were  driven  back  in  disorder. 
All  along  the  line  the  charge  had  been  repulsed,  and 
the  enemy  were  driven  from  the  hill,  back  into  their 
camps. 

The  hill  for  which  the  Union  forces  had  struggled 
for  five  long  hours  was  theirs,  but  along  its  sides, 
and  amid  its  tangled  thickets  more  than  two  thou- 
sand soldiers,  Federals  and  Confederates,  lay  dead 
and  wounded.  Well  has  it  been  called  ever  since 


With  a  cry  he    sprang   forward    and    beat   down   the  gun  with 
his  sword 


WILSON  CREEK  327 

"  Bloody  Hill."  With  the  last  repulse  of  the  enemy, 
the  noise  of  battle  died  away.  The  Federal  officers 
held  a  hasty  council,  and  it  was  decided  that  their 
safety  consisted  in  falling  back.  It  was  true,  they 
held  the  battlefield,  but  the  enemy  could  surround 
them,  and  cut  them  off  from  Springfield.  There- 
fore the  army  which  had  whipped  three  or  four 
times  their  number,  sullenly  fell  back.  But  the 
enemy  did  not  follow,  they  had  had  enough  of 
fighting. 

During  the  night,  another  council  was  held  by  the 
Federal  officers,  and  it  was  decided  to  retreat  back 
to  Rolla.  In  the  morning  the  weary  march  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five  miles  was  began  and  on 
the  whole  retreat  they  were  not  molested.  The 
enemy  were  satisfied  with  the  possession  of  Spring- 
field. But  the  shame  of  it!  When  the  army  re- 
treated from  Springfield,  they  left  the  body  of  their 
brave  commander  to  be  buried  by  the  enemy. 

Although  the  Federal  army  retreated  from  the 
battlefield,  they  had  won;  they  had  saved  Missouri. 
The  battle  of  Wilson  Creek  was  the  crowning  glory 
of  Lyon's  life.  It  was,  in  effect,  a  great  victory. 
Read  what  Colonel  Stead,  General  Price's  Adju- 
tant-general, and  afterwards  Chief  of  Staff  says : 

"Lyon  did  not  fight  and  die  in  vain.  Through  him 
the  rebellion  which  Blair  had  organized,  and  to  which 
he  had  himself  given  force  and  strength,  had  succeeded 
at  last.  By  capturing  the  State  Militia  at  Camp  Jack- 


328  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

son,  and  driving  the  Governor  from  the  capital,  and  all 
his  troops  into  the  uttermost  corner  of  the  State,  and 
by  holding  Price  and  McCulloch  at  bay,  he  had  given 
the  Union  men  of  Missouri  time,  opportunity,  and 
courage  to  bring  their  State  Convention  together  again, 
and  had  given  the  Convention  an  excuse  and  the  power 
to  depose  Governor  Jackson  and  Lieutenant-governor 
Reynolds,  to  vacate  the  seats  of  the  members  of  the 
General  Assembly,  and  to  establish  a  State  Govern- 
ment which  was  loyal  to  the  Union,  and  which  would 
use  the  whole  organized  power  of  the  State,  its  Treas- 
ury, its  Credit,  its  Militia,  and  all  its  great  resources  to 
sustain  the  Union  and  crush  the  South.  All  this  had 
been  done  while  Lyon  was  boldly  confronting  the 
overwhelming  strength  of  Price  and  McCulloch.  Had 
he  abandoned  Springfield  instead,  and  opened  to 
Price  a  pathway  to  the  Missouri ;  had  he  not  been  will- 
ing to  die  for  the  freedom  of  the  negro  and  for  the 
preservation  of  the  Union,  none  of  these  things  would 
have  been  done.  By  wisely  planning,  by  boldly  doing, 
and  by  bravely  dying,  he  had  won  the  fight  for  Mis- 
souri." 


CHAPTER  XXIV 

AFTER  THE  BATTLE 

WHEN  Lawrence  came  to  himself,  he  was 
in  an  ambulance,  jolting  over  the  rough 
roads,  on  his  way  to  Rolla.  The  ball  from 
the  revolver  of  Benton  Shelley  had  struck  him  on 
the  left  side  of  the  head,  ploughing  along  the  skull, 
not  fracturing  it,  but  producing  concussion  of  the 
brain.  After  the  repulse  of  the  enemy,  he  was  found 
by  his  comrades,  and  they,  seeing  that  there  was 
still  life  in  him,  carried  him  back  and  placed  him  in 
an  ambulance.  He  was  well  on  his  way  toward 
Rolla  before  he  recovered  consciousness,  and  then 
it  was  to  learn  that  the  army  was  retreating,  and 
that  the  body  of  his  General  had  been  left  to  the 
tender  mercy  of  his  foes. 

This  greatly  excited  him:  "Cowards!  cowards!" 
he  exclaimed.  "Oh!  why  did  I  leave  him?  Why 
did  they  not  leave  me,  and  a  score  of  others  like  me, 
and  bring  along  his  precious  remains  ?  " 

By  the  time  Lawrence  reached  Rolla  he  had  a  rag- 
ing fever,  was  delirious,  and  recked  nothing  of  what 
was  going  on  around  him.  When  next  conscious- 
ness came  to  his  bewildered  brain,  a  sweet-faced 
nurse  was  sitting  by  his  side.  It  seemed  to  him  he 
was  surrounded  with  familiar  objects,  yet  so  weak 

329 


830  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

was  he,  to  raise  even  his  eyelids  was  such  an  effort, 
that  he  took  little  heed.  The  nurse  noticed  that  he 
stirred,  and  when  she  looked,  and  saw  the  light  of 
reason  in  his  eyes,  she  murmured,  "  Thank  God." 

He  tried  to  speak,  but  could  only  faintly  whisper. 

"There,  there!"  said  the  nurse  as  gently  as  if 
hushing  a  child,  "  Don't  try  to  talk ;  you  have  been 
very  sick,  but  you  will  be  better  now.  Here,  take 
this,"  and  she  placed  a  soothing  draught  to  his  lips. 
He  took  it,  sighed,  closed  his  eyes,  and  sank  into  a 
refreshing  sleep. 

When  he  awoke,  it  was  night,  the  room  was  dimly 
lighted,  and  the  same  sweet-faced  nurse  was  sitting 
at  a  table  reading.  He  tried  to  speak,  but  he  was 
so  weak,  so  weak;  yet  he  felt  no  pain.  The  nurse 
heard  him  and  hurried  to  his  side.  "Ah!  you  are 
better,"  she  said  smiling.  "  There !  no  talking,  no 
questions.  You  will  know  all,  when  you  are  able 
to  hear.  Now  you  are  to  take  this,  it  will  give  you 
strength." 

She  gave  him  broth  which  he  eagerly  swallowed, 
and  then  he  closed  his  eyes,  and  slept  once  more. 
When  he  awqke  again  it  was  day,  and  there  was  no 
one  in  the  room.  He  looked  around.  Was  he 
dreaming?  Surely  this  was  his  old  room  at  his 
uncle's,  the  same  furniture,  the  same  pictures  on  the 
walls.  But  in  addition  to  the  pictures,  there  was  a 
sword  hanging  on  the  wall  above  his  head.  He 


AFTER   THE  BATTLE  331 

knew  it  well,  it  was  his  sword,  the  "Sword  of 
Bunker  Hill."  What  did  it  mean?  The  last  thing 
that  he  remembered  was  being  in  an  ambulance,  on 
that  fearful  journey  back  to  Rolla. 

The  nurse  came  in,  and  who  was  with  her  but 
Doctor  Goodnow?  Lawrence  knew  him  in  an  in- 
stant. He  was  as  fat  and  as  jolly  as  ever.  Law- 
rence grew  more  bewildered.  Was  what  he  was 
seeing  an  illusion  ?  But  there  was  no  illusion  in  the 
merry  voice  of  the  Doctor,  as  he  exclaimed :  "  Awake, 
are  you,  you  young  scamp?  You  came  near  slip- 
ping through  my  fingers;  but  you  will  live,  another 
monument  to  the  great  skill  of  Yours  Truly.  But  I 
ought  to  have  let  you  die,  you  pesky  Yank." 

"Doctor!  Doctor !"  cried  Lawrence  weakly, 
"  Where  am  I  ?  And  how  did  you  come  here  ?  " 

"  Where  are  you  ?  "  answered  the  Doctor.  "  Thank 
your  stars  you  are  in  your  uncle's  house  in  St.  Louis, 
you  young  reprobate.  And  how  did  I  come  here? 
Well,  ask  some  of  Abe  Lincoln's  hirelings.  We  have 
been  having  lively  times  up  in  old  Platte.  John 
Brown  and  the  Kansas  troubles  nothing  to  it !  We 
are  all  Rebels  in  Platte.  A  regiment  of  Iowa  soldiers 
swooped  down  on  us,  and,  blast  their  eyes,  if  they 
didn't  want  me  to  take  an  oath  of  allegiance  to 
Abe  Lincoln's  government!  Did  I  do  it?  Not 
much,  so  they  shipped  me  down  here.  They  let  me 
go,  after  a  while.  Your  uncle  told  me  about  you, 


332  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

and,  hope  to  be  shot,  if  I  did  n't  work  like  a  Trojan 
to  save  your  life.  Ought  to  be  hanged  for  doing  it." 

Lawrence  could  not  help  smiling  at  what  the 
Doctor  said.  "  And  Judge  Lindsly,  what  of  him  ?  " 
he  asked. 

"Arrested  too.  Think  of  the  old  Judge  taking 
such  an  oath!  He  would  die  ten  thousand  times 
first.  But  they  have  let  him  go  now.  You  have 
talked  enough,  not  another  word." 

"  Can't  I  see  uncle  and  aunt  ?  " 

"  No,  not  now.  Can't  be  responsible  for  sending 
you  to  Hades  before  your  time.  That  place  is  filling 
up  with  Yankees  fast  enough.  Take  some  broth, 
go  to  sleep,  and  when  you  get  strong  enough  you 
can  see  your  uncle  and  aunt.  I  am  commander, 
and  mind  you  obey  me." 

It  was  a  couple  of  days  before  the  Doctor  would 
allow  Lawrence  to  see  his  uncle  and  aunt,  because 
he  knew  the  interview  would  be  a  trying  one.  When 
they  did  come  in,  his  aunt  pressed  kiss  after  kiss  on 
his  pale  cheeks,  and  her  tears  fell  like  rain,  as  she 
murmured :  "  My  dear,  dear  Lawrence,  how  can 
I  ever  be  grateful  enough  for  what  you  have  done?" 

"  Done  ?  "  answered  Lawrence  in  surprise.  "  Why, 
aunt,  for  what  I  have  done  I  thought  I  had  nearly 
broken  your  heart.  Have  I  not  fought  against  those 
you  love  ?  Am  I  not  an  enemy  to  the  South  you  hold 
so  dear?" 


AFTER   THE  BATTLE  333 

"  Oh,  Lawrence,  I  forgive  you  all  that;  it  is  for 
saving  the  life  of  my  boy,  my  darling  Edward,  that 
I  thank  you." 

"  How  in  the  world  did  you  know  I  saved  the  life 
of  Edward?"  asked  Lawrence. 

"We  have  received  a  letter  from  him,"  she  re- 
plied, "  telling  us  all  about  that  dreadful  battle,  and 
how  you  saved  his  life,  and  he  feared  lost  your  own. 
Guilford — I — I  mean  a  messenger  from  the  Con- 
federate army  brought  the  letters." 

Her  confusion  was  so  great,  that  Lawrence  said : 
"Do  not  be  alarmed,  dear  aunt,  if  Guilford  Craig 
did  bring  the  letters.  Not  for  the  world  would  I 
betray  him,  even  if  he  were  ten  times  the  spy  that 
he  is." 

Little  did  Mrs.  Middleton  think  that  every  one 
of  those  letters  had  been  opened,  their  contents 
noted,  and  the  edges  carefully  resealed,  before  being 
delivered. 

"  Thank  you,  Lawrence,"  said  his  aunt,  "  it  is  no 
more  than  I  might  expect  of  you.  But  let  me  read 
that  part  of  Edward's  letter  which  refers  to  you." 

"Better  let  me  thank  him  first,"  said  his  uncle, 
"  Clara,  you  are  doing  all  the  talking." 

It  was  a  warm  grasp  of  the  hand  that  his  uncle 
gave  him.  "  My  boy,"  he  exclaimed,  "  remember 
that  after  this,  my  home  is  your  home,  I  don't  care 
how  much  of  a  Yankee  you  become." 


336  WITH  LYON  IN  MISSOURI 

Lawrence's  bed.  "  They  tell  me  it  was  found  grasped 
in  your  hand  when  you  were  picked  up  unconscious 
on  the  field." 

"Yes/'  replied  Lawrence,  "it  is  the  sword  you 
gave  me, —  the  'Sword  of  Bunker  Hill.'  It  is  the 
sword  which  struck  down  the  bayonet  reaching  for 
Edward's  heart.  Thank  God  it  saved  life,  instead 
of  taking  it!" 

"Amen,"  replied  his  uncle  devoutly. 

Two  or  three  days  afterwards  Doctor  Goodnow 
came  in  to  bid  Lawrence  good-bye.  "  I  am  off,"  he 
said. 

"  Off  where,  to  Platte  County  ?  "  asked  Lawrence. 

"No,  to  Price's  army.  The  boys  need  me.  You 
will  not  give  me  away,  will  you  ?  " 

"Not  I,  Doc,"  replied  Lawrence.  "The  best 
thing  I  can  ask  is  that  if  any  poor  sick  or  wounded 
Yanks  should  fall  into  Price's  hands,  you  will  be 
there  to  attend  them." 

"Cuss  the  Yankees!  I  will  poison  them,  so  I 
will." 

But  after  all  that  the  Doctor  had  said,  there  was 
a  queer  quiver  in  his  voice,  as  he  bade  Lawrence 
good-bye  for  the  last  time. 

And  here  we  will  leave  Lawrence,  surrounded  and 
cared  for  by  those  who  loved  him,  although  enemies 
of  the  flag  for  which  he  fought.  When  well,  he 
again  took  part  in  the  great  struggle  then  going  on, 
but  on  other  fields,  and  under  other  commanders. 
THE  END 


YB  73346 


